Gum recession is a highly common dental condition that affects people regardless of their oral health. In fact, the early stages of gum recession are not apparent to many people. Most people realize they have gum recession only after seeing a dentist. Gum recession is a very real condition that, if not treated, can lead to severe pain and cause several other dental problems. If detected early, treatment is straightforward and can enhance your general quality of life. But what exactly is this condition? This blog explains.

What Gum Recession Is

Gum recession is sometimes referred to as gingival recession. It is when a person's gums pull back from their teeth, making the teeth appear longer and exposing tooth roots. When gum recession occurs, gaps develop between the teeth and the gums.

Bacteria can build up in these gaps, leading to gum disease and the area neighboring the teeth wearing off. Gum recession can be mild, moderate, or severe. It can affect one or several teeth. In advanced cases, the resulting infection can disintegrate the bone beneath, leading to tooth loss.

Gum recession can occur due to different factors; some are controllable, while others are not. Receded gums will not grow back. But a periodontist or dentist can help treat or prevent the recession from worsening, which is good news. Gum recession is a gradual process; most people only realize they have receding gums once it is already happening. And whereas anyone could experience gum recession, it is most prevalent in individuals over 65.

What Follows After Gums Recede?

The function of gums is to protect and shelter teeth in various ways. The attached soft tissue called gingiva attaches teeth to the connective tissue that shields bone and teeth, while the unattached gingival mucosa shields the insides of cheeks and gums as it is a movable elastic gum tissue. The gingival margin is at the edge of the gum line, shielding and enclosing teeth.

Gum recession happens when the gingival margin shifts away from the teeth, exposing the roots of the teeth. An exposed tooth root with little calcified cementum to shield it can result in tooth sensitivity or tooth decay as the endings of the tooth nerve are also exposed.

Gum Recession Causes

Gum recession may result in severe oral health issues; thus, understanding the underlying cause is the initial step toward preventing it. Regrettably, some causes are beyond a patient's control. The following are the most prevalent reasons for gum recession:

Poor Oral Hygiene

Failing to brush and floss may lead to the accumulation of dental plaque (a sticky film that covers teeth and contains bacteria). If left on the teeth's surface for a long time, plaque turns into tartar or calculus (a hard substance that is much more difficult to remove). When calculus moves and deposits itself underneath the gums, it separates the gums from the teeth, and the gums start to recede.

Teeth Clenching and Grinding

The force from teeth clenching or grinding can irritate and damage the gums until they start pulling away from the teeth. Clenching or grinding one's teeth is a condition called bruxism. It usually happens while sleeping, and most people with it do not know about it.

Gum recession may be the first warning sign of bruxism, followed by worn teeth and headaches. Bruxism can easily be rectified using a mouthguard. Apart from preventing gum recession, a mouthguard also prevents tooth loss or sensitivity.

High Frenal Attachment

The muscles that move the cheeks and lips are attached to the gums at several locations in the mouth. The membranes that attach them are known as frena. If the muscles are attached too high, every move the mouth makes tugs and pulls at the gums, leading to recession with time.

Dental Braces

Orthodontic treatment using braces, clear aligners, and spreaders is a great technique to straighten teeth and enhance oral health. However, the constant force that repositions teeth can result in gum recession and inflammation.

Periodontal Disease

The initial stages of gum disease, gingivitis, result in red and swollen gums. If left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis, a more advanced form of gum disease involving bacterial accumulation, infection, and damage to gum tissue, including recession.

Mouth Trauma

Aggressive brushing is a type of trauma that can lead to gum recession. However, other kinds of trauma may also result in gum recession. If you fall and hit your face or take a blow to the mouth, it might lead to the teeth becoming malpositioned or loose. Research shows that these types of injuries expose a person more to gum recession.

Aggressive Flossing and Brushing

When washing a dirty cooking pan, it makes sense that scrubbing it harder will make it cleaner. However, the same does not apply to your teeth. Aggressive brushing usually damages the tooth enamel and wears off gum tissue. Focus on technique, brush using a soft-bristled toothbrush, and floss properly without causing bleeding or soreness.

Genetics

Some individuals are just born with gums prone to receding. Whether or not you properly care for your gums and teeth, you may experience gum recession if the condition runs in your family.

Abnormal Tooth Positioning

An unaligned bite or teeth can also result in gum recession.

Tobacco Usage

Smoking and other products of tobacco are directly associated with gum recession.

What Shows You Are Experiencing Gum Recession?

Gum recession signs vary, but they can include:

  • Swollen and red gums.
  • Mouth sores.
  • Bad breath.
  • Bleeding, pain, or sensitivity when flossing or brushing.
  • Sensitivity to sweets, cold, and heat.
  • Discomfort and pain near the gum line.
  • Sensitivity during dental cleaning.
  • Visibly shrinking gums.
  • Loose teeth.
  • Exposed tooth roots.

If you do not treat gum recession, it can result in other severe oral health issues like feeling "wiggly," tooth mobility, bone loss, or tooth loss. Schedule a dental appointment immediately if you experience one or more of the above symptoms.

When You Should See Your Dental Professional

If you realize that the roots of your teeth are more noticeable than before or if you have higher tooth sensitivity, it could be gum recession. It is essential to contact your periodontist or dentist the moment you experience the first symptom of gum recession. The earlier the dentist detects and treats gum recession, the higher your chance of receiving optimum dental care.

While consulting your dental professional, learning more about gum recession will help you prevent common issues and improve your dental and oral health. You should therefore ask your dentist or periodontist any questions you may have, including the following:

  • How advanced is your gum recession.
  • What treatment options are available for your condition.
  • The likelihood of your gum recession recurring after treatment.
  • How often should you have your teeth cleaned?

Gum Recession Diagnosis

Gum recession can be diagnosed during your routine dental examination. Your dentist will measure the extent of recession on every tooth with a unique instrument known as a periodontal probe. It is common to experience bone loss in areas where gum recession has occurred.

Consequently, your dental professional will also take measurements of the periodontal pocket around every tooth. A healthy pocket measures between one and three millimeters. A pocket measures four millimeters if you have gingivitis and five or more millimeters if you have developed periodontal disease.

Treating Gum Recession

Receded gums do not ever grow back. However, treatment can improve their health and restore a beautiful smile. There are various treatment options for gum recession based on the severity and cause of the recession.

Mild gum recession cases may be treated with nonsurgical options like antibiotics, orthodontics, or dental bonding. However, in many instances, surgery is necessary to fully rectify the problem. Work closely with your periodontist or dentist to see whether one or more of these treatment options suit you.

Non-Surgical Treatments

Non-surgical treatments include:

Gum Contouring

Gum contouring is a dental procedure that can enhance your smile and the health of your gums. Using a scalpel or laser, your dentist will create a newer gum line that is straighter, which will help keep gum tissues healthy and make them easier to clean.

Orthodontics

A crooked, rotated, or tipped tooth can cause gum recession. In these situations, braces may be an ideal option. After the braces move the tooth into proper alignment, the gum margin may correct itself with time.

Dental Bonding

Sometimes, your dental professional can camouflage the area where gum recession has occurred using tooth-colored composite resin. Doing this will help cover the exposed tooth root, making it more comfortable and less noticeable.

Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning is more than just a more thorough dental cleaning. It consists of root planing and tooth scaling, where special equipment is required to remove the tartar and plaque at the roots where there is gum recession. Deep cleaning can assist in addressing mild gum recession.

During the deep cleaning, the periodontist peels the gums back to expose the tooth roots and then smooths the roots down. Since it is more difficult for bacteria to attach to a smoother surface, this process assists in protecting your gums and teeth from dental infections.

At times, periodontists apply an antibiotic gel to teeth while cleaning to kill difficult-to-reach germs, while other times they prescribe an antibiotic mouth rinse or oral antibiotics. Your hygienist can apply numbing material to ensure you are more comfortable and relaxed during the dental cleaning.

Antibiotics

Your dental professional can also prescribe antibiotics to avert further infection. You may use the antibiotics independently or alongside other treatment options. Possible antibiotics come in the form of oral medications, gels, mouthwashes, toothpaste, or chips.

Most people experiencing gum recession feel sensitivity or pain. This happens because the roots of your teeth are not covered with enamel. Instead, they are covered with cementum, which is not as strong. To reduce sensitivity, your periodontist can apply a desensitizing agent such as fluoride varnish to minimize discomfort linked to gum recession. Also, you can use desensitizing toothpaste at home.

As implied above, desensitizing toothpaste is the most suitable for gum recession. It can help alleviate discomfort linked to gum recession. Check for active ingredients such as stannous fluoride, potassium nitrate, strontium chloride, and arginine. These ingredients assist in calming tooth nerves. Desensitizing toothpaste is more effective if used long-term and can take weeks to begin working.

Surgical Treatments

If your gums already have too-deep pockets or you have experienced extensive bone loss, nonsurgical treatments may not be sufficient to treat gum recession. In this case, surgery could be necessary. Surgical procedures you may undergo include:

Gum Tissue Grafting

If you have lost too much gum tissue, you may need to undergo a form of surgery known as gum tissue grafting to restore the gums. Gum grafting is a surgical procedure where the periodontist will extract tissue from a different place in your mouth, usually the palate, and apply it to the exposed tooth root. Recovery may take one or several weeks since the graft from the palate and other gum tissue requires ample healing time.

How long it will take you to recover depends on various factors, such as the number of teeth treated, where the periodontist extracted the gum graft, and the grafting process performed. Your dentist will give you comprehensive postoperative instructions. For example, they may instruct you to avoid eating hard or chewy foods and to avoid initially brushing near the site of the graft. You should follow the instructions strictly to encourage a comfortable and successful surgery.

Flap Surgery

Flap surgery is also called pocket reduction surgery or flap scaling. This is a more extensive deep-cleaning procedure to remove tartar and bacteria buildup. An oral surgeon or periodontist will pull back the gums, extract the damaged tissue, and put the gums back in place more snugly around the teeth.

Chao Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation

The Chao pinhole surgical method does not entail scalpels, tissue grafting, or stitches. Your oral surgeon makes a small hole in the gum and uses a unique device to gently loosen and reposition your gum tissue to cover the exposed tooth root.

Chao pinhole surgery provides immediate improvement. You will also experience very little postoperative discomfort. This procedure lasts only between one and two hours. Research has shown that it yields uniformly excellent and long-lasting results.

Bone Grafting or Bone Regeneration

Regeneration therapy is a more modern approach to treating gum recession. It is necessary when you have lost bone tissue. In this treatment option, the periodontist pulls back your gums and cleans the impacted area, similar to what is done in root planing and deep cleaning.

However, apart from folding back your gum tissue and cleaning the impacted area, the periodontist places a bone graft or other regenerative material where bone deterioration has occurred before securing the gums over the tooth roots again. The bone graft or regenerative material encourages the body to regenerate bone tissue independently.

Regeneration is often the last option when significant gum recession arises from periodontitis.

Preventing Gum Recession

Irrespective of the reason for your gum recession, you should still take preventative measures to keep it from progressing. These tips lower the risk of gum recession and enhance overall dental and oral health:

  • Dental visits: visiting the dentist regularly, that is, at least every six months, is the ideal way to stay in control of your dental health. Professional teeth cleaning removes tartar and plaque that could cause periodontal disease.
  • Choosing healthy foods: not only do vegetables and crisp fruits assist in reducing plaque, but the nutrients and vitamins from these and other healthy foods can also assist in preventing the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Because bacteria thrive on sugars, avoiding sugary foods is an excellent way of preventing gum irritation.
  • Stopping smoking: Tobacco smoking can increase the amount of harmful bacteria in your mouth. Stopping will prevent gum recession, decay, and other dangerous side effects of smoking.
  • Maintaining proper dental care: proper dental care involves sticking to the basic oral care routine and is crucial to general oral health. It improves gum and tooth health and prevents further gum recession. The basic oral care routine includes:
    • Brushing two times a day.
    • Using a soft-bristled brush.
    • Flossing daily.
    • Applying proper teeth brushing techniques to assist in protecting your gums and enamel.
    • Using an antibacterial mouthwash twice a day.
    • Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
  • Treating existing dental conditions: a misaligned bite, teeth grinding, or crooked teeth can increase the risk of gum recession and gum disease. Treating these conditions lowers the wear and tear of the teeth and gums and the risk of gum recession.

If you are experiencing gum recession because of factors you cannot control, consult your periodontist or dentist regarding possible treatment. Even though receded gums will not grow back, proper treatment and care by yourself, your periodontist, and your dentist can restore your smile and confidence.

Find Reliable Hawthorne Dental Services Near Me

If you are experiencing gum recession, contact a periodontist or dentist immediately to begin treatment and prevent further recession. At Ganji Dental, we provide gum recession treatment using advanced techniques. Our improved treatment techniques help us quickly address the gum recession problem, and our patients feel minimal discomfort.

If you wish to undergo gum recession treatment in Hawthorne, CA, call us at 310-643-8045 to schedule a consultation with one of our expert periodontists. We will work with you to establish a suitable treatment plan to alleviate pain and restore your beautiful smile before starting treatment.