Causes, Symptoms and Treatment for Receding Gums

What are Receding Gums?

Gum recession is an oral condition where the gum tissue that surrounds the teeth pulls back and expose more parts of the teeth, sometimes even the root. Receding gums increases the chance of plaque and disease-causing bacteria buildup because it creates gaps in the teeth and gum line. Severe gum recession damages the bone structure which can lead to tooth loss. Gum recession is considered as one of the most common dental issues. However, it may be hard to diagnose receding gums at its earliest onset because recession happens gradually, and some might take years to become noticeable.

Causes of Receding Gums

There are multiple reasons why your gums can recede. One such causes of receding gums are periodontal diseases. Bacterial infections can damage gum tissues and the bone that supports the teeth. For most cases of gum recession, gum disease is the main culprit for receding gums. Aside from periodontal diseases, your genes also play a role in developing gum recession. No matter how they take care of their teeth, some people are just more susceptible to contract gum diseases than others, and that includes gum recession. Your brushing habits can also be the reason why your gum is receding. Brushing your teeth too hard or brushing it the wrong way can cause gum recession. Aggressive brushing wears away the enamel on your teeth and causes your gums to recede. While brushing your teeth excessively and aggressively can cause gum recession, inadequate dental care will also cause your gums to recede. Not giving enough time and effort to brush, floss and rinse your teeth will cause plaque to turn into tartar which is a hard substance that can get stuck between your teeth. This will pave the way for your gums to recede.

Symptoms of Receding Gums

Symptoms of receding gums include swollen gums, exposed tooth roots, bad breath, bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth and shrinking gums. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact Carolina Dentistry @ The StateLine immediately to get proper treatment.

Treatment for Receding Gums

Mild cases of gum recession do not usually require treatment and your dentist might just advise preventive measures so that your gum recession will not worsen. If your oral condition is more severe, there are various treatment options for gum recession. Here are some of the treatments that you can get for your receding gums: Composite restoration: Your dentist will use composite resins with the same color as your teeth to cover the exposed part of the teeth’s surface. Pink composite: Pink porcelain composites are used to fill the gaps on the receding gums. It has the same pink color as the gums. Orthodontic treatments: This kind of treatment is done over a long period of time and require multiple visits to the dentist. Your dentist will reposition your gums slowly up to the correct gum margin. Surgery: Surgical treatments for gum recession involve grafting tissue from another site in the patient’s mouth and let the tissue to heal over the receding gum. This kind of Treatment for Receding Gums only used for severe cases of gum recession. If you think that you have gum recession, contact us at Carolina Dentistry @ The StateLine. We will provide effective and safe solutions to your receding gums. Our dentist, Dr. James B. Schwartz, DDS, has over 25 years of experience in treating all kinds of dental cases. Book an appointment now through our 24/7 online scheduling.