Typical Causes Why You Might Have Receding Gums and Ways To Treat It

ALL ABOUT YOUR GUMS
While your teeth are integral to how attractive your smile is, your gums are equally as important. This remarkable tissue supporting your teeth is the basis for your smile and performs the crucial functions of keeping your teeth in position and protecting their vulnerable roots. This is why a receding gumline is not simply an aesthetic problem. It is a significant oral health condition. In order to keep your gums healthy, you have to learn the most frequent contributing factors of gum recession. With that knowledge, you can change your habits and oral health regimen to protect yourself from receding gums. Further, if you already suffer from receding gums, there are many options for treatments that can help in restoring your gumline. At MINT dentistry in East Houston, our knowledgeable staff of dental professionals provides preventive care and a full range of interventions for receding gums, which are selected based on the reason behind your gum erosion. Read on to find out more about receding gums, the causes, and frequently used treatment methods. Local patients who want to ensure their gum health and would like to keep their teeth and gums looking gorgeous should set up an oral health evaluation with a dentist in Houston, TX.

TOOTH LOSS AND GUM RECESSION
Gum recession occurs when the delicate gum tissue starts to shrink away from the teeth. More and more of the enamel is exposed until, over time, the sensitive roots are also exposed. Gum recession generally won't happen abruptly. Often, patients will begin to develop symptoms such as inflamed and tender gums that bleed for no reason. Discharge along your gumline and consistent bad breath (halitosis) are also signs that typically develop before receding gums. If you see any of them, you should schedule a consultation with your dental practitioner in Houston, TX as soon as possible. If gum recession is neglected, your teeth might begin to become loose or fall out, since the gums can't keep them secured.

LEADING REASONS BEHIND RECEDING GUMS
Unfortunately, gum recession is not a rare dental issue, especially for individuals over the age of 40. There are multiple causes of receding gums, which can help your dental practitioner in determining how to manage yours. A few of the most common reasons behind receding gums are:

• BRUXISM
  Numerous people clench their jaws and/or grind their teeth when they are concentrating during the day or as they sleep (nocturnal bruxism). The intensity of clenching and grinding can degrade your teeth and oral soft tissue.
• HORMONE CHANGES
  The variations in hormones that females go through during puberty, while pregnant, and with menopause can cause worsening gum inflammation and elevated sensitivity. It is very important to prevent periodontal disease during pregnancy because it may negatively impact the health of both the mother and the child.
• BRUSHING YOUR TEETH TOO OFTEN
  Even though it might strike you as odd, scrubbing your teeth too aggressively can also lead to gum recession. Brushing too much and too aggressively slowly eats away at the gums. You should be using a brush with soft bristles to clean your teeth and massage your gums.
• PERIODONTAL DISEASE
  The most common reason behind receding gums is periodontitis, the worst stage of periodontal disease. This infection in your gum tissue will likely cause gum recession if not properly treated.
• MALOCCLUSION AND UNEVEN TEETH
  Like with bruxism, crooked teeth and malocclusion (bite misalignment) can put extra weight on your jaws, teeth, and gums. Plan an appointment with your dental practitioner in Houston, TX to talk about dental options like Invisalign to gradually adjust your teeth into the best alignment.
• SMOKING OR CHEWING TOBACCO
  The poisonous toxins in any tobacco products can hurt your gums. Also, though they don't include tobacco, the gooey elements in e-cigarettes and vaping liquid can also be harmful. Get help with quitting tobacco with your primary care physician and then visit your dental practitioner to discuss ways to restore your oral health.
• HEREDITY
  Family history might predispose you to receding gums, which will make it more important to be vigilant about your teeth and gums. Find out if any family members have dealt with gum disease and then tell your dental practitioner.
• INCONSISTENT DENTAL CARE
  Failing to brush and floss after eating allows food remnants and plaque to accumulate along your gums, which can lead to gum (periodontal) disease. Periodontal disease is a very common reason that men and women begin to develop gum recession. Flossing is particularly important in eliminating this accumulation from your gumline and boosting blood circulation.

METHODS OF TREATING GUM EROSION
To figure out the best treatment for your receding gums, your dentist will first have to locate the cause. Gum erosion caused by gum disease will be treated according to how serious your condition is. For individuals who present with the early stage of gum disease, commonly known as gingivitis, dentists usually perform multiple scaling and root planing (SRP) sessions. A nonsurgical procedure, SRP therapy eliminates the accumulated plaque inside your gum pockets and polishes away pits in the enamel to prevent future accumulation. If SRP deep cleaning is not enough to restore your oral health, or if you have the more advanced stage of gum disease (periodontitis), your dentist can possibly perform periodontal surgery, or he or she may refer you to an oral surgeon. During this procedure, incisions will be created in your gum tissue to reach farther into your gum pockets and remove the plaque on your tooth roots. SRP therapy and periodontal surgery are frequently followed by a round of prescription antibiotics to clear any leftover bacteria. Following SRP therapy or gum surgery, your dental practitioner will allow some time for your gums to mend and regenerate on their own. In the event that your gumline is still too recessed, gum graft surgery could be performed. Periodontal plastic surgeries generally utilize tissue from different areas of your mouth, for example, the roof of your mouth, to increase tissue where required along your gumline. Man-made and donor grafts might also be used for patients who don't have sufficient tissue to build a robust gumline. Once you have healed from gingival grafting, it is important to follow a careful home oral hygiene regimen and attend regular appointments with your dentist in Houston, TX for annual dental examinations and twice-yearly professional cleanings.

HEAL YOUR GUMLINE
Gum tissue is the basis for your general oral well-being, so you need to be vigilant about your gums to achieve an attractive, vibrant smile. Schedule an oral health evaluation with your dentist if you have questions about periodontal disease or gum recession. At MINT dentistry in East Houston, our skilled team of dental professionals provides diagnoses and many treatment options for gum recession, including scaling and root planing, periodontal surgery, and gum grafting. Call or come by our office in Houston, TX to set up exams for your family.