What are Receding Gums?
Receding Gums(Gingival recession ) is the exposure in the roots of the teeth caused by a loss of gum tissue and/or retraction of the gingival margin from the crown of the teeth. gum recession is a common problem in adults over the age of 40, but it may also occur starting from the teens.
When gum recession occurs, pockets or gaps form between the tooth and gum line, making it easy for disease-causing bacteria to build up. if left untreated, the supporting tissue and bone structure of the teeth can be severely damaged, and may ultimately result in tooth loss.
Receding Gums Causes:-
Periodontal diseases:- Most common cause is periodontal disease. Bacterial gum infections that destroy gum tissue and supporting bone that hold your tooth in place
Overaggressive brushing:-if you brush your teeth too hard or the wrong way, it can cause the enamel wear and your gums to recede.
Insufficient dental care:-inadequate brushing and flossing allows bacteria to build up between the teeth and below the gum line, which leads to painless chronic inflammation of the gums and gradual recession, with increase tooth mobility as the supporting bone is lost
Hereditary:-thin, fragile, or insufficient gingival tissue predisposes to gingival recession. some people may be more susceptible to gum disease. in fact, studies show that 30% of the population may be predisposed to gum disease, regardless of how well they care for their teeth.
Tooth malposition and misaligned bite:-when teeth do not come together evenly, too much force can be placed on the gums and bone, allowing gums to recede.
Dipping tobacco:-tobacco affects mucus membrane lining in the mouth and will cause receding gums over time
Hormonal changes:-fluctuations in female hormone levels during a women lifetime such as in puberty, pregnancy menopause can make gums more sensitive and more vulnerable to gum recession
Grinding and clenching:-grinding and clenching your teeth will cause too much force on the teeth, causing gums to recede.
Habits like digging a fingernail or pencil into the gum:-commonly associated with children and persons with psychiatric disorders
Jewelry of the lips and tongue can rub the gums and irritate them to the point that gum tissue is worn away.
Abnormal frenal attachment
Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
Adult orthodontic movement of the teeth.
Intentional Gingival retraction:-if the adult tooth may not grow out of the gum, and to remedy this, a procedure called an exposure is done. it involves the gum tissue being cut open to allow the adult toothy to grow out. it is the less common cause of gum recession.
Wondering how to stop receding gums from getting worse, or not sure what to do for receding gum on one tooth or gums separating from bottom teeth or want to know how to reverse receding gums. It is always important to know what are the reasons for receding gums. Below are the receding gums symptoms to know that you are facing receding gums issue.
Receding Gums Symptoms:-
- Tooth mobility
- Dentin hypersensitivity
- Tooth appears longer than normal
- Roots exposed and visible
- A notch at the gum line
- Change in the tooths color due to the color difference between enamel and cementum
- If the gum recession caused by gingivitis then symptoms are red, swollen gums bleed while brushing and flossing, bad breath
Receding Gums Classification:-
Class1:-marginal tissue recession not extending to the mucogingival junction.no loss of interdental bone or soft tissue
Class2:-marginal tissue recession extends to or beyond the mucogingival junction.no loss of interdental bone or soft tissue.
Class3:-marginal tissue recession extends to or beyond the mucogingival junction.loss of interdental bone or soft tissue is apical to the cementoenamel junction but coronal to the apical extent of marginal tissue recession.
Class4:-marginal tissue recession extends beyond the mucogingival junction.loss of interdental bone extends to a level apical to the extent of the marginal tissue recession.
Receding Gums Treatment:-
There are several ways for receding gums teeth cleaning and receding gums treatment, below are some of the treatments usually dentists use to treat receding gums. It is advised to consult the dentist to understand what kind of receding gums treatment would be apt for you.
Correction of malocclusion
Eliminate habits such as clenching and grinding
Mild gum recession:
Scaling and root planing
Antibiotics
If your gum recession can not be treated with deep cleaning because of excessive bone loss and deep pockets, gum surgery may be required to repair the damage caused by gum recession.
Surgical procedures:-
- Pocket depth reduction
- Regeneration
- Soft tissue graft
Pocket depth reduction:- ( Receding Gums Teeth Cleaning)
In this procedure, the dentist folds back the affected gum tissue, removes the bacteria from the pockets, and then snugly secures the gum tissue in place over the tooth root, thus eliminating the pockets or reducing their size.
Regeneration:- (Reverse Receding Gums)
As in pocket depth reduction, your dentist will fold back the gum tissue and remove bacteria. a regenerative material such as a membrane, graft tissue, the tissue-stimulating protein will then be applied to encourage your body to naturally regenerate bone and tissue in that area. after the regenerative material is put in the place, the gum tissue is secured over the root of the tooth.
Soft tissue graft:-
Several types of gum tissue grafts are used
- Connective tissue graft-it is commonly used. Subepithelial connective tissue is collected from the palate and then stitched to the gum tissue surrounding the exposed root.
- Free gingival graft:-tissue is taken directly from the roof of the mouth
- Pedicle graft:-if enough gum tissue is present surrounding the affected area then graft is taken from near the tooth.
Receding Gums Prevention:-
- Maintain good oral hygiene
- Use soft-bristled toothbrush
- Follow the proper brushing technique
- Avoid over-brushing
- Use dental floss in a correct way
- Quit smoking
- Take a well balanced healthy diet
- Eliminate habits like nails or pencil digging
- Correction of abnormal frenal attachment
