How to Stop Receding Gums

 In Oral Health

There was a time when receding gums was seen as a normal sign of ageing – hence the saying “long in the tooth.” But while it’s true that our gums can recede with age, it’s often a symptom of something much more serious – periodontal disease.

Severe gum disease starts small. The infection is called gingivitis and an estimated 47 percent of people have it. This mild infection can go unnoticed, but you might notice that your gums are sensitive and tend to bleed after tooth brushing or that they appear red and inflamed.

Mild gum infections such as these are caused by bacteria that build up in the mouth – even when you’re quite good with your home oral hygiene routine. There are always crevices and corners that are hard to reach with a brush and the bacteria that breed here cause gum infections.

Receding Gums are a Serious Symptom

Once your gums begin to recede from your teeth, you have a serious gum infection. It can cause damage to the bone that underlies your teeth, and there is even early research that seems to show a link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease.

Trying to stop receding gums with home or folk remedies is a recipe for disaster. You have an infection and need specialized help. The good news is that the treatment of receding gums has advanced enormously in recent years. Dentists can even restore some or all of the damage that has already been done to the gum line.

How Dentists Treat Receding Gums

The treatment of receding gums depends on how bad the damage is. If the infection has damaged the bone or the pockets it forms in the gums have become too deep, you may need to undergo surgery to save your teeth. Depending on what is required to do so, it could involve bone grafting or regeneration, gum grafts, or simply a lifting and reattachment of existing gum tissue.

However, if the recession has just begun, the Surrey dentist can clean away the harmful bacteria and smooth the tooth so that it is harder for the bacteria to regain a foothold.

Taking Care of Your Teeth Means Taking Care of Your Gums

Gum recession isn’t just an aesthetic problem, it also has the potential to be a serious health problem. The longer it goes untreated, the worse it gets, the more permanent damage is done, and the more severe the intervention required to correct it.

Luckily, you don’t have to do anything extra to take care of your gums. Follow this checklist:

  • Brush your teeth twice daily and floss once a day.
  • Do not brush too vigorously at the gum line – use the correct brushing technique and a brush with relatively soft bristles.
  • Visit your dentist for regular check-ups. Every 6 months is best, but once a year will do if you don’t already have dental complications.
  • Visit your oral hygienist for regular teeth cleaning to remove tartar build-up on your teeth.
  • Limit your consumption of sugary foods and beverages.

Are You Worried About Receding Gums?

If you have noticed that your gums are receding it may just be that you need to adapt the way you brush your teeth or that you are seeing a normal sign of ageing. However, the possibility that receding gums come from an infection that could place your health at risk is real. See your dentist as soon as possible.

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