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GUM RECESSION
One major oral health issue that people may not even notice they have until it’s too late is gum recession. This is because recession happens so slowly that—by the time it is caught—it may be very difficult to repair. That’s why it’s important to understand what gum recession is, what the symptoms that you should be looking out for are, what causes gum recession and how it can be treated.
SYMPTOMS OF GUM RECESSION
Gum recession is essentially the pulling back of the gums due to different causes. As gum recession can take time, there are certain symptoms that you can look out for to see if your gums may be receding. Some symptoms of gum recession include:
- Swollen Gums
- Red Gums
- Shorter Looking Gums
- Bad Breath
- Longer Looking Teeth
- Loose Teeth
While your dentist will likely notice your gums receding, if you aren’t visiting your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning, there is a good chance that gum recession will go unnoticed until it becomes more of an issue. Make sure to both look out for symptoms of gum recession on your own, while also visiting your dentist regularly so they can check for gum recession as well.
More information on how to stop receding gums from getting worse >
CAUSES OF GUM RECESSION
There may be a few different reasons why your gums are receding, which include:
- Hard Brushing
- Genetics
- Old Age
- Teeth Grinding
- Tobacco Use
- Periodontal Disease
Some of these have pretty simple solutions. For instance, if your gum disease is caused by brushing too hard, you can simply adjust the way you brush. If the recession is caused by tobacco use—while it may be a little more difficult to fix than hard brushing—it can be resolved by quitting smoking or other tobacco use.
Other reasons for recession will require more advanced methods of treatment. One major reason for gum recession that will require the intervention of a dentist to resolve is gum disease. Gum disease (or periodontal disease) involves an infection of the gums due to plaque, tartar and/or debris being trapped below the surface of the gums. This disease can lead to a variety of different oral health issues—one of which being gum recession.
GUM DISEASE STAGES
As gum disease gets worse, so do the symptoms. This includes gum recession. If caught early on, very minimal treatment may be required to alleviate any gum recession (if any treatment at all). As the disease becomes more severe, though, the treatments also become more intensive.
Below are three stages of gum disease, and what to expect at these stages:
GINGIVITIS
Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease, and is very easily treated. At this stage, if there is gum recession, it generally isn’t bad enough that any restorative measures are required.
PERIODONTITIS
The next stage of periodontal disease is periodontitis. At this stage, more severe damage has begun to occur; some of which may be untreatable. This may include gum recession. Gum recession treatments will likely need to be considered at this stage.
ADVANCED PERIODONTITIS
Once the gum disease gets bad enough, it can be extremely difficult to treat the damage that has occurred. The gums are likely receded to the point where the teeth are loose, and restoring the gums can be an extremely difficult process. Do not let your gums get to this point!
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GUM DISEASE TREATMENT
With an understanding of the stages of gum disease and just how dangerous it can be, you can see why it’s best to do what you can to avoid it. Still, you may end up with gum disease. By taking proper care of your oral health and visiting your dentist every six months for a cleaning and checkup, you’ll likely catch it early, and you can have it treated.
In order to treat gum disease, you’ll need to undergo a scaling and root planing (also known as a “deep cleaning”). This procedure involves a dentist cleaning at and below the gum line, removing debris, tartar and plaque. If the gum disease has progressed to the point where the gums have begun to significantly recede, though, other procedures will need to be considered.
GUM RECESSION TREATMENT
The most common treatment option for gum recession is a gum grafting procedure. This procedure involves a dentist taking tissue from somewhere else in the mouth and grafting it to the area in which the gums have receded.
While receded gums can never fully heal, a gum graft helps to restore the lost tissue and improve the appearance of the patient’s gums.
PREVENTION
The best way to treat gum recession is to avoid it in the first place. This is done by taking proper care of your teeth and gums through good oral care techniques. Make sure to brush, floss and rinse every day, twice a day. You’ll also want to make sure to visit your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. The cleanings will help you to avoid gum disease, and the checkups will allow your dentist to diagnose any gum disease that has already occurred.
If you notice your gumline receding, or if you notice any other signs of gum disease, make sure to contact your dentist and set an appointment for them to take a look at the area. The sooner you treat gingivitis, the less likelihood it has of progressing to periodontitis.
In order to avoid gum recession, you’ll also want to quit any tobacco use—including smokeless tobacco. Adopting a healthy diet will also help to avoid gum disease, and in turn, gum recession. Both of these changes will also help to significantly improve your life longevity.
If you haven’t seen your dentist in over six months, make sure to set an appointment with them today. Don’t wait until you have an oral healthcare emergency before seeing the dentist!
With proper care and regular trips to the dentist, you’ll be able to avoid gum recession, and treat any gum disease should it occur.
