Receding gums are an extremely common dental condition that can cause discomfort and further disease if ignored. Receding gums occur when the gum begins to pull back from the tooth. This exposes the root, which causes pain and sensitivity.
You may first notice receding gums due to pain when drinking hot or cold liquids. Or you may also notice that your gums look red, inflamed, or bleed during flossing. If you have any of these symptoms, it's important to see a dental practitioner sooner than later.
In the space where the gum used to occupy, bacteria can take hold. This is gum disease and can cause serious damage and lost teeth when left untreated.
Temporary and Solvable Causes of Receding Gums
One of the simplest reasons gums recede is brushing too hard. Opting for gentler instruments may help solve gum issues.
Temporary causes like pregnancy will eventually go away. Conditional catalysts, such as an oral piercing rubbing on the gum or smoking are also issues with quick fixes—simply remove the problem.
Bite issues, like misalignment or teeth grinding, can cause gum tissues as well. In this case, dental treatment that resolves the alignment or grinding will assist with the recession.
More Significant Causes of Receding Gums
Other causes are unfortunately more difficult to tackle. Predisposition and aging are hard to fight and maybe things you simply need to respond to with more intense dental care.
Diseases, such as gum or periodontal disease or other chronic illnesses, are also likely culprits. Though it is treatable, it can be an extensive, long-term condition that requires regular care.
Conversely, if you have never received consistent care for your teeth, the recession could result. If you establish good care to maintain your teeth going forward, you may be able to stem some of the issues associated.
Treatments for Receding Gums
Treating periodontal disease is often the best way to cope with receding gums and related gum disease. This requires deep cleaning of bacterial pockets formed by gum recession. By manually cleaning these pockets in the dental office, further disease progression is prevented. This is known as scaling and root planing
If gum recession is to the point where repair is needed, typically oral surgery will be used to replace the gum tissue itself or bone tissue. These are done with tissue grafts—often from your own mouth—which will meld with existing tissue and grow in place of receded gums and damaged teeth.
Oral specialists use grafting to prevent serious gum or bone loss, particularly when it may mean lost teeth or jaw bone. It can give gum disease patients an excellent chance at retaining their teeth and reducing discomfort.
If you’re noticing inflammation around your gums or more of your teeth showing than before, it’s important to bring it up to your dental care provider as soon as possible. Make an appointment with Dr. Hersh at Advanced Prosthodontics to get care for your receding gums and stop more serious damage before it starts. Call (610) 865-4222 today to schedule.