Not only can receding gums look unsightly, but they can also be the sign of a more serious dental condition. While receding gums happens to be an incredibly common condition, it’s something that people don’t always notice until the cause of it has progressed significantly.  The issue with receding gums is that it exposes the tooth and lead to decay or even tooth loss later on.  The good news is, early detection could slow down or even reverse receding gums.

Common Causes of Receding Gums

While it’s certainly true that improper oral hygiene can lead to receding gums, it’s not the only known cause. Other factors could be:

• Improper brushing techniques: the gums can actually wear down due to brushing too hard or using a stiff toothbrush. Brushing too much and too often can cause your gums to wear down quickly. This is why proper brushing techniques are absolutely critical.
• Heredity: Some people are simply genetically prone to having receding gums. Things such as the position of the teeth and even the gum thickness can be inherited traits that actually make a person more likely to experience recession in their lifetime.
• Periodontal disease: This disease is the cause of tooth loss, and it can also lead to bone loss which impacts the entire mouth.
• Delicate tissue: Some people simply have more delicate tissue in their gums. This makes it, so they are more likely to have regularly inflamed gums and thus have recession over time.

Who is at Higher Risk?

While the above factors are the causes of receding gums, there are also groups of people who are simply at a much higher risk than the general population. Those people include:

• Individuals over the age of 65
• People who smoke or use other tobacco products.
• Genetics
• People who have diabetes

Treatment Options

Fortunately, there are treatment options available for receding gums. Common treatment options include:

• Desensitizing agents: These products help reduce the sensitivity of the gums and ensure that the gums are getting inflamed less regularly.
• Composite restoration: The process includes a dentist placing a composite over the exposed gum and protects it from continuing to recede. It is also a tooth-like color so that it blends in nicely with the rest of the smile.
• Pink composite: This particular option is similar to the above-mentioned composite, but the difference is that this composite is pink which matches the color of the gums.
• Removable Gum veneers: As a way to protect the mouth, you can simply place a gum veneer over the impacted area. This can make the gums feel more comfortable but do not address the underlying issue.
• Orthodontics: In some cases, the position of the teeth is the reason for the gum recession. If this is the case, orthodontics can gently move the teeth toward the proper position over a period of time.
• Surgery: In the event of severely receded gums, your Denver dentist may choose to graft tissue from other areas of the mouth in order to repair the damaged gum.

Prevention is Key

While not all causes of gum recession are preventable, in some cases it is. That is why it’s important for people to practice good hygiene, continue regular check-ups with their dentist, and schedule additional appointments if you notice any changes in your gumline. A faster response time to the issue could mean that you have a better chance of saving your gums and mouth from a lot of pain and repair.

Overview

Receding gums is something many people are faced with. However, it’s important to pay close attention to your oral health and report any changes in your gums to your dentist in Denver CO right away. Quick discovery of any problems could mean a faster solution. Call Barotz Dental today at 720-707-0200 to discuss your questions with Dr. Barotz.