Why Do You Have Receding Gums, And What Can You Do About Them?

Receding gums — and in fact all other gum diseases — are notoriously hard to prevent, because they do not cause any direct pain. It is only after a certain amount of destruction has occurred that other associated symptoms may start to arise which include pain, sensitivity, and an esthetically compromised smile.

This condition is also extremely technique sensitive to correct and even that may not be possible every single time.

What Are The Causes Of Gum Recession?

The first step to being able to prevent the gums from receding is to know what causes it. Here are some of the causes responsible:

1. Overzealous Brushing

Yes, you heard that right. By trying to brush a little harder or a little longer than advised, you actually end up harming the teeth and gums rather than strengthening them. People who are getting regular check-ups and scaling done at the dentist should not have this problem as the damage caused should be detectable at an early stage and a modification of the brushing technique can then be implemented.

Your dentist is likely to advise the use of a soft brush that is to be used gently and a maximum brushing frequency of twice a day. Numerous studies have shown that brushing more times than that can actually be counterproductive.

2. Irregularly Placed Teeth

The gums follow the bone that supports the teeth and so in areas where the teeth are placed more outwardly than normal, a thinner supporting bone leads to an increased likelihood of recession.

While getting orthodontic treatment to correct the position of the teeth will not treat any recession that has occurred, orthodontic treatment does have great potential in preventing receding gums.

3. Poor Oral Hygiene

The starting point of almost every oral problem is the accumulation of plaque and tartar which happens through poor oral hygiene. Receding gums are no different. Brushing twice a day and getting your teeth cleaned professionally every six months (or once a year at the minimum) is the best way to ensure that the gums do not start to recede.

4. Smoking

No other factor has been linked as closely to the occurrence of receding gums as smoking has. The exact reason as to why it occurs is still not clear, however, it is likely that direct trauma to the gums and a change in the local immune response play major roles.

There are many more serious and life-threatening reasons to quit smoking and it seems that a decreased incidence of recession of the gums is one of the benefits to be enjoyed by non-smokers.

5. Trauma 

Direct trauma to the teeth or gums from a physical blow or an accident can also be responsible for the occurrence of recession. Indirect trauma as that caused by a habit of grinding the teeth can cause a more widespread recession of gums in the number of teeth involved.

These causes are relatively easy to identify through a thorough clinical history and a close examination of the kind of trauma that has occurred. 

Treatment Of Receding Gums

Treatment Of Recession

Like almost anything else, the treatment of recession depends on the stage at which it is diagnosed. The earlier this problem is detected, the less invasive the treatment is, the less it will cost and the less amount of time it will require.

We can't stress highly enough how much patients stand to gain through regular visits to the dentist — but just in case you missed it, be sure to get twice yearly checkups!

Recession can be mild, moderate or severe for the purposes of patient education. There are more detailed classifications that your dentist will use, however, that is beyond the scope of this article.

Mild Recession

The amount of recession here is minimal, 1-2 mm at most. The treatment is limited to patient education, brushing habit modification and maybe the use of a medicated toothpaste in case sensitivity has started to appear.

If the recession is towards the front of the mouth and visible to others then a surgical procedure to try and return the gums to their original position may be undertaken.

Moderate Recession

This is the most commonly treated stage of recession. The gums have receded 3-5 mm and thus need some sort of intervention. For recession towards the back of the teeth, composite or GIC fillings might be advised in case abrasion defects associated with excessive brushing have appeared.

Surgical options including the use of gum grafts for the treatment of recession are most frequently employed in these situations. Your dentist will likely involve a periodontist (a gum specialist) to carry out the procedure.

The chances of complete elimination of gum defects are quite high although rarely the gum graft does not "take" and other options have to be explored.

All of the above-mentioned information about patient education and brushing modification apply in this situation as well.

Severe Recession  

When the recession has increased to 6mm or more, the amount of destruction is considered severe and is not always amenable to treatment. Some patients may show associated symptoms like loose teeth, bad breath, pain, and swelling.

The doctor has to make an assessment of the clinical situation and then decide if surgical intervention is even an option. Often times, a two-stage approach in which an initial surgery is done to improve the baseline of the defect and then another one a few months later to try and reduce the defect as much as possible.

Extraction may also be needed in some cases where the tooth is beyond repair.

Conclusion

Patients really do not want to reach the stage where they will have to spend significant amounts of money to just regain what they could have always had with a little care. Think about it, everyday things like brushing as advised and visiting the dentist periodically is all that it takes to keep your teeth healthy.

The oral health of a person is also a very good indicator of their overall health and an oral infection can often lead to wider systemic ramifications.