What Causes Receding Gums?
There are many reasons why gums recede – the most notable cause being gum disease. Below are some other causes that might start the process of gum recession:
Why Are My Gums Receding?
The most common causes of receding gums are due to ageing, brushing teeth too hard, or poor oral health that includes plaque and tartar buildup. Depending upon the state of your oral health, you are very likely to be suffering from gingivities, which occurs due to the inflamed gum tissue with the presence of plaque bacteria that hardens into tartar.
The gum tissue separates from plaque developing inbetween the gum tissue and the tooth. As it hardens, the gum deteriorates and ‘recedes’ down to where it can properly connect to the tooth.
How Is Gum Recession Treated?
Typically, minor gum recession is treated by a dentist or dental hygienist performing a deep cleaning (tooth scaling and root planing) in order to remove the plaque (tartar) that builds up on the teeth and gum. Our dental hygienists use an ultrasonic instrument or manual scaling tools to remove the plaque on the surface of the enamel under the gums that cause chronic irritation and bone loss. This procedure is different from regular cleaning which only cleans along the gum line. Deep cleaning also targets the roots of your teeth to make the cementum on the surface smoother. This will help keep plaque from forming in spaces that are uneven. Finally, antibiotics may be prescribed in order to clear out the remaining harmful bacteria. In instances where gum recession has been left untreated for an extended period of time, dental surgery may be required. This is a last resort used when there is excess loss of bone or when the gaps between the teeth and gum are too deep to be treated by deep cleaning.
How to Fix Receding Gums?
Gum recession treatment varies depending upon the patient and the condition of the gums and the surrounding tissue. Mild to moderate cases can be improved with a dental cleaning, antibiotics, or even dental bonding. However, in more severe cases, gum recession surgery is needed.
How to Fix Receding Gums at Home?
There aren’t many cases where you can fix receding gums at home. You should visit the dentist immediately if you notice that you have gum recession for a complete diagnosis to understand the root cause of your receding gums.
For those that are suffering from receding gums, understand that sometimes a dental cleaning and better oral healthcare is all that’s needed to fix the situation.
However, for others, there may be more important steps needed to ensure that you keep your teeth and repair your smile. We urge you to contact Dr. Tyson Pickett, DDS FAGD and his team in Keller, to safeguard your smile prevent more costly damage.