Suffering from receding gums is not all that uncommon, as there are many reasons why it can happen. Even more so when all the attention is on the teeth rather than what keeps them there, the gums! When you think about it like that, you start to realize just how big of a role they play.
Just what are the gums?
The gums is the pink fleshy tissue, also named gingiva, that supports your teeth. It plays a major role maintaining your teeth aligned and anchored to your mouth.
When you have receding gums, it is normal for a bunch of problems to arise! Such as tooth sensitivity, gum disease, bad breath, tooth decay and cavities, and much more.
This is because gums that have receded are likely exposing the root of the tooth, which in comparison to the outer surface, it is much more vulnerable. On the surface of our pearly whites it is covered by tooth enamel, which does a fine job protecting the dentin. On the other hand, fo r the root of our teeth, it is covered by cementum, yet it is not as tough. This makes it an easy target for plaque.
Causes of receding gums
We have asked our Los Algodones dentists and there are quite a handful of reasons that trigger receding gums. Finding what you do that does it is key to stopping your gums from pulling back:
- A lack of oral habits is one of the most common issues. This entails not brushing or flossing every day, which irritates the gums with the buildup plaque. It is also likely that you suffer from gingivitis.
- Brushing too hard is also one common reason, as it harms the gums. We recommend soft bristles for your toothbrush as opposed to the hard ones. You can find these at any pharmacies in Los Algodones for very good prices.
Remember that plaque is just a sticky film, so using gentle and firm strokes is enough to sweep it away. Brushing too hard might also make you suffer from tooth sensitivity as you brush part of the tooth enamel. - A hard hit or blow that has caused tooth trauma can be one of the reasons, too. Upon receiving a traumatic injury is enough reason to trigger receding gums.
- Grinding or clenching your teeth(bruxism) plays a role as well. Remember that bruxism can happen during the day under stress or at night while you sleep. Identifying the scenarios that trigger this and doing something accordingly is a pretty good start!
- Or simply it is just genetics. Our genes can also dictate if our gums are more prone to recede over the years.
How is it treated?
It depends greatly from person to person, as every mouth is different. But usually mild gum recession can be treated by having a deep cleaning and removing all the buildup plaque. Of course, having a good brushing technique is important to make it harder for plaque to buildup again.
The deep cleaning is also known as tooth scaling and root planning, which is the process where all plaque and tartar are removed with special tools. If the root area of your teeth is exposed, it is also smoothed a bit in order to make it more difficult for bacteria to attach to it.
In case the patient’s receding gums cannot be treated this way due several reasons, then a gum surgery might be necessary in order to repair the damage.
So how do I keep my gums healthy?
As always, having good oral habits is of utmost importance to avoid problems in the future. Also getting checked with your dentist is important! As things like gum disease are often overlooked by people as it is first painless.
We give you these tips to follow so you can know how to keep your gums healthy:
- Brush and floss every day, and use a therapeutic mouth rinse as well. Also tilting your toothbrush 45° towards your gum line helps a whole ton.
- Have a well balanced diet as your body needs nutrients to supply your gum tissue with.
- If you are a smoker, it is best to quit as it is harmful for the gums.
- Visit your dentist at least twice a year. This way they can monitor any changes that happen in your mouth over time.
