Gum recession, a result of periodontal disease occurs when the gum tissue surrounding the teeth starts to pull back or wear out, leaving gaps and pockets between the gum line and leading to exposed root.
The process is gradual, so it’s difficult to identify immediately. If left untreated, gum recession can lead to swelling, tooth bleeding and even tooth loss. According to Harvard Medical School, there is a direct relationship between gum recession and coronary heart disease.
How then do you recognize gum recession to avoid it? Read on to find out.
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What Do Receding Gum Look Like?
Receding gums are unpleasant sight to behold. A person with receding gum will likely have the following symptoms:
- Bleed after flossing and brushing
- Have red, swollen gums
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
- Exposed teeth root
- Shrinking gums
- Painful gum line
Do I Have Receding Gums?
These tips will help you identify receding gums:
- Healthy gums are light pink in color, are firm and very elastic. If your gum doesn’t fit this description, then you likely have gum recession.
- Gum bleeding from brushing and flossing, is another sign of gum recession. If you have gum recession, even if you brush and floss gently or use tooth sensitive toothpaste, you may still bleed.
- Having more exposed root than necessary. When gums recede, the gums chip away, leaving more teeth visible. Check for notches or lines along the root of the teeth, the gums usually recede to that part.
- Tooth sensitivity is also an indication of gum recession. If it hurts when you chew or bite down on food, then you are probably suffering from gum recession. The more this occurs, the more painful it becomes to chew. Teeth can shift as a result of this, giving a feeling of misalignment.
- Loose teeth are signs of advanced periodontal disease and gum recession. This means the tissue and bone supporting the teeth and gum have started deteriorating and may result in tooth loss if left untreated.
How to Deal with Receding Gum
- Prevention: Mild gum recession is reversible if prevented. By adopting healthy oral health and hygiene, you can prevent gum recession. Quit smoking and use of tobacco, and brush your teeth twice a day with the best toothpaste for receding gums. Use gentle brush and recommended mouth rinse and pay a frequent visit to the dentist, all of this will help prevent periodontal diseases.
- Deep Cleaning: A dentist can manage gum recession by deep cleaning of the receding part. The dentist can apply a series of method including tooth scaling and root planning, smoothing of the receding part and so on.
- Gum Surgery: Sometimes, the condition is too advanced for mild procedures. In this case, the dentist can perform gum surgery. An example is soft tissue grafting. This involves taking skin from the tongue or roof of the mouth and planting it in the affected area.
- Regeneration: This applies to situation where the bone surrounding the gum is damaged. The process involves removing the bacteria and plaque causing the recession, and folding back the receded gum. After this, the dentist uses a regenerative item to induce regrowth of the gum.
Conclusion
Gum recession isn’t a death sentence, but it robs you of your smile and confidence, and leaves you in pain and despair. But by recognizing the symptoms and taking the right preventive and corrective dental care, you can have healthy and beautiful teeth.
Dr Michael Jones is the proud founder of The Toothbrush Expert. He has been working as a dentist for 21 years now. Besides his work as a dentist, Michael wants to help people to find the right dental products. His goal is to provide everyone with honest expert reviews on all kinds of dental care products.
