Receding gums are an oral health concern when they get to the point where tooth roots are exposed. It leads to a higher risk of decay, infection, and loss. Therefore, if you suspect your gums are receding, or a dental professional has brought it up to you, it's time to seek treatment.
Look at the teeth during each brushing. If they start to seem longer, then that may be an indication of recession, so set a dentist appointment as soon as possible.
Receding gums are a form gum disease in which your gums pull back from the tooth surface, exposing the root surfaces of your teeth. This can be a serious condition as a consequence of poor oral hygiene, which may eventually lead to tooth loss.
Advanced periodontitis is the fifth and final stage of gum disease, and it is likely that you will lose teeth or at least loosen teeth during this phase without immediate dental intervention. The infection impacts the jawbone, so teeth may be lost regardless.
It's never too late to seek treatment for gum disease, and the degree of treatment you require will depend on how advanced it is.
In some cases, it may be too late for gum grafting to save the gums. If your gums are severely damaged, receding so far back that they expose the tooth's root, or if there is significant bone loss from advanced gum disease, gum grafting may not be able to restore them to their healthy state.
One study found that if you're starting from level 1 gingivitis, it takes an average of 66.8 weeks, which is a little over 15 months, to develop into periodontitis. If your gingivitis is more advanced than this, it takes less time.
The third stage of gum disease results in significant bone loss (20 to 50 per cent) of the teeth's root surfaces due to continued tissue and bone destruction. Periodontal disease is "cyclical"—it goes through cycles with activity bursts, followed by a period in which the body is attempting to recover.
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.
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.
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.
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.
While gum recession can affect people of all ages, it's most common in people over 65. You're more likely to develop recession if you: Have periodontal disease.
Gingivitis – Early Stage of Gum Disease
This stage only affects the soft tissue of the gums, and the patient may not experience any discomfort. Although the symptoms may be very mild, it is important to diagnose gum disease in this early stage before it progresses to periodontitis.
Some of the common symptoms of gum disease include swollen, red, and bleeding gums, dry mouth, bad breath, and sensitive teeth. As mentioned before, gum recession is certainly a symptom of gum disease, but it doesn't necessarily mean you have it.
If you have periodontitis, your teeth start moving in the mouth, making tooth loss a reality. However, if you receive gum disease treatment early, you can preserve your natural teeth and prevent the need to search for replacement options.
What does gum disease look like? Early signs of gum disease include swollen, tender and reddish or purplish gums. You may see a buildup of plaque on your teeth. As the disease worsens, you may notice loose teeth and pus along your gum line.
Per CDC/AAP, severe periodontitis is defined as having 2 or more interproximal sites with clinical attachment loss (CAL) 6 mm or greater (not on the same tooth) and 1 or more interproximal sites with periodontal probing depth (PPD) 5 mm or greater.
If you have only mild gum recession, a deep-cleaning procedure may be enough to solve your problem. This procedure is also called root planing or tooth scaling, which typically involves removing hardened plaque and tartar underneath your teeth and gums.
Eventually this causes deep pockets to form between your gums and teeth. These pockets fill with plaque, tartar and bacteria and become deeper over time. If not treated, these deep infections cause a loss of tissue and bone. Eventually you may lose one or more teeth.
Periodontitis Stage 1: Initial. Periodontitis Stage 2: Moderate. Periodontitis Stage 3: Severe with potential for tooth loss. Periodontitis Stage 4: Severe with potential for loss of all the teeth.
Your dentist will clean above and below the gum to remove bacteria and plaque. Then a regenerative material – a membrane, tissue-stimulating protein or graft tissue, will be applied to encourage your body to naturally restore the damaged bone and tissue. The gum is then securely reattached over the root of the tooth.