How to avoid and treat gum reduction?

First impressions are always important, and greeting a person with a smile can help develop a good intuition about you in their mind. However, a smile can reveal more than you might like, especially if you are suffering from an obvious oral disease. One such disease is receding gums, or gingival recession, characterized the loss of gum tissue leading to the exposure of the roots of the teeth.

Ggum recession causes

Gum recession is usually seen in people above 40, but can also develop in teenagers. It is often difficult to diagnose because many people do not notice the slow loss of gum tissue, only becoming aware of the disease when some one comments about it or during a regular dental checkup. Symptoms of gum recession are often not very obvious, but sensitive teeth are usually one sign. Also, larger than normal teeth and difference between the top and bottom of the tooth are indications of gum recession, as is the development of cavities below the gum line. Often, gum recession occurs due to gingivitis, which is characterized by swollen, red gums as well as bad breath.

Gum recession can occur due to a wide variety of reasons. In some cases, it can occur due to naturally fragile gingival tissue, which can be a hereditary problem. It can also occur due to inept brushing technique, leading to the enamel of the teeth near the gum line slowly wearing out. Gum diseases such as gingivitis are also a leading cause, with the actual recession of the gums not obvious due to inflammation.

Once the cause of the recession is known, treatment can start. In case of aggressive use of toothbrushes, dentists recommended using a softer tooth brush and applying it more gently in the proper up-down technique. However, if the recession is caused due to inadequate oral health, there is little to do except to adopt good oral health habits, like brushing twice a day and flossing daily, as well as using a good mouthwash. In extreme cases, a dentist may have to carry out professional dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar. In some cases, gum recession can occur due to incorrect biting techniques that can cause unnecessary friction against the gum tissues. For more severe cases or when the cause is not obvious, dentists can carry out soft-tissue graft surgery to create more of the gingival tissue. This utilizes a tissue sample from the gums and growing it in a lab. Once a sufficient quantity has accumulated, the tissue is reapplied. In cases where tissue grafting is not possible, synthetic membranes are used to support the gums. In specific cases, the adjacent gum tissue can be readjusted to cover any receding areas, or a graft sample can also be obtained from the roof of the mouth.

However, surgical methods to cure gum recession are expensive and time consuming, and might not be enough to stop the disease. Therefore, you best bet is to maintain good oral health through good oral habits such as brushing and flossing regularly to save yourself from the discomfort of gum recession.