Receding Gums

For those who are not aware, Receding Gums refers a loss of gum tissue which eventually leads to the roots of the teeth being exposed. It is typically associated with people over 40 years of age, however recently, there are indications that it has become prevalent among younger people. This condition may also be known by another name: gingival recession.

The Causes

There are various causes of Receding Gums and a couple of them are outlined below:

• Gum disease is probably the most common cause. Poor oral hygiene leads to a build-up of plaque and bacteria growing around your teeth. These eventually start attacking and receding the gums.
• The way your teeth come together may cause significant trauma to both your teeth and gums. In dental circles, this is known as occlusion and orthodontists specialize in improving occlusion in patients.
• Excessive brushing leads to both your teeth’s and gum line’s enamel being worn away which reduces your teeth’s natural defense, opens the door to plaque buildup and recedes the gums.

How To Treat It

One drastic yet common solution to treat the problem is by regenerating affected gums with new gum tissue. This refers to gum grafting procedure which is typically undertaken by a periodontist. However, this sort of treatment is normally reserved for those with severe cases of gum recession.

Another treatment, more common and reserved for those with generally healthy teeth, involves drilling holes in the teeth and filling them with material that will stop them from receding further.

The best way to treat it is by addressing the causes of the problem. If you’ve been brushing too much, you should consider changing your technique or brush. If your oral hygiene has been poor, you should look to adopt new habits.

Receding Gums is a dental problem that we all should be aware of.