Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body, but it can be damaged by excessive force during tooth brushing. Brushing too hard can also wear down your gums, causing them to recede from the teeth.
Gum recession can't always be prevented, especially if you are genetically predisposed to thin gum tissue. However, you can significantly reduce your risk of infection-related gum recession by practicing proper teeth and gum care. For example: Brush your teeth thoroughly twice every day.
Can Gums Grow Back? If you were to ask any periodontist if gums can grow back after receding, they would tell you no, they cannot. As nice as it would be to have these soft tissues move back into their original position after treatment, the harsh reality is that they will not.
Unfortunately, the answer is no. There is good news though! Even though gum tissue does not regenerate once it has receded, there are plenty of ways to avoid it and slow the process. Keep reading to learn some of the causes of gum recession and how you can deflect it.
How Far Can Gums Recede? Gums can recede to the extent at which the uppermost portion of the root becomes visible. Damage can also extend to the ligament and the bone, where it cannot be seen. Prompt care for receding gums is important to avoid significant consequences.
Good Oral Hygiene Habits
One of the most important things you can do to avoid further gum recession is to brush and floss your teeth twice daily. If your gums have receded due to aggressive brushing, be mindful of the force you are applying while brushing and use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
It's never too late for gum grafting as long as the patient has sufficient gum tissue to harvest for the graft. However, the success rate of the procedure may be lower in cases where the patient has advanced gum disease or other underlying health issues that can affect the healing process.
Poor oral hygiene can cause receding gums in two ways. First, if you do not brush your teeth properly, some plaque remains, which can buildup up tartar. Tartar breeds disease-causing bacteria which affect the gums, causing them to recede towards the tooth root. The second is through aggressive hygiene.
Avoid donuts, candy, energy drinks, cake, and chocolate. Since gum recession exposes the tooth's roots and nerves, extreme temperatures from ice cubes or popsicles can cause your gums to be more sensitive.
Gum Veneers are the only tools cosmetic dentistry has for receding gums. But, that doesn't mean there are no other treatments. Surgical procedures for receding gums help not only make your smile look better – they get at the “root” causes of receding gums.
Brushing twice a day, flossing regularly, and using an antibacterial mouthwash can improve teeth and gum health and prevent additional gum recession.
Brushing your teeth too hard – this can wear away the enamel on your teeth and make your gums recede. Poor oral health – if you don't keep your teeth clean with regular brushing and flossing, plaque can build up and turn into a hard deposit called tartar.
When you look in the mirror, do you see more of a tooth than you used to? This is one of the easiest ways to tell if you have gum recession. When gums recede, more of the tooth is visibly exposed. Look for lines or notches along the bottom of the teeth, as this typically indicates areas where the gums have receded.
Exposed tooth roots are most commonly caused by receding gums or gum disease, but other factors can contribute as well. Gum disease occurs when bacteria enters the space between your teeth and gums, causing an infection that eventually recedes the bone around the teeth and exposes the roots if not treated.
Initial healing will take about 10 to 14 days to take place. It will take about 6 months for full gum maturation to complete. I don't want tissue taken from the roof of my mouth - What are my options? Your own gum tissue is the best kind of gum, however it requires a donor site.
Now that the tooth and root are free of bacteria, plaque, and tartar, and the pockets have been reduced, the gums can reattach to the teeth. When the bone and tissue supporting the teeth have been lost due to severe gum disease, we can restore these areas with a regeneration procedure.
When performed on a regular basis, gum massage can thicken the gum epithelium. The gum epithelium is the outer layer of gum tissue that helps protect the gums from bacteria that can cause infections. When this tissue layer thickens and strengthens, it helps protect your gums from bacterial infections more effectively.
Gum grafting covers exposed teeth roots and adds volume to your gum line, improving overall oral health. Recovery usually takes one week to two weeks, but it may take longer. Gum grafting has a good success rate and can reduce your risk of severe gum disease.
Patients who have donor tissue for their graft will experience minimal pain, whereas patients whose graft is surgically extracted from their mouth will experience more pain and discomfort, both during the procedure and recovery period.
With a gum graft, you can expect it to remain in place for a lifetime, but you will need to take care of your oral health on a daily basis. This means brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and being mindful of how much pressure you're using while brushing.
That's right, brushing too hard or with the wrong technique can actually pull back your gum tissue. Not cleaning between your teeth. You guessed it, not flossing.
Saltwater rinses help with treating gum disease but are not capable of fixing the problem by themselves. You require help from a professional periodontist and maintain good oral hygiene habits if you intend to get over periodontal disease.
Corsodyl mouthwash can help halt receding gums caused by gum disease, but I'd only recommend using it when recommended by your dentist.