Your gums are an important feature of your mouth. They protect the roots of your teeth and your jawbone. They also help to provide extra support for your teeth. If your gums are receding, your oral health becomes compromised. Crown Hill Smiles can help to diagnose the cause of your gum recession and help to restore your oral health.
What Happens When Gums Recede?
Gum recession has a significant impact on your smile. As it happens, your teeth begin to appear longer, which can make you appear older. This isn’t the only effect, however. Gum recession affects your oral health as well. With more surface area exposed, your teeth are at a greater risk for
tooth decay. The roots of your teeth can become exposed, leading to painful tooth sensitivity. Gum recession can also impact the stability of your teeth. Your teeth may begin to shift out of alignment. If you lose bone mass as well, you may even be at risk for tooth loss.
How Does Gum Recession Happen?
One of the most common causes of gum recession is
gum disease. As the infected tissue dies off, your gum line recedes. You can suffer gum recession because of overaggressive toothbrushing. Brushing too hard damages the sensitive tissue and causes it to recede. Issues such as crooked teeth,
bruxism, and dental trauma can all affect your gum line as well. Sometimes, genetics plays a role.
Can Gum Tissue Grow Back?
Once the gum tissue has pulled back and receded, it unfortunately cannot grow back. Your gum tissue does not regenerate like other soft tissues of your body. Many natural remedies are believed to help reverse gum recession. These remedies include oil pulling, aloe vera, and green tea. While these remedies are shown to help improve your oral health, they cannot help your receding gums to grow back.
Gum Recession is Treated by Scaling and Root Planing
While gums may not be able to grow back, gum recession can be treated. Gum recession should be treated by a professional. When you start to notice signs of gum recession, it is important to make an appointment. We can determine the extent of your gum recession and what the best course of action will be. The first step is to slow, and possibly even stop, the progression. This might include a professional deep cleaning known as scaling and root planing. A slow release antibiotic or medicated mouthwash may be recommended. In addition to professional care, you will also need to commit to improving your oral hygiene.
For more significant cases of gum recession, we may recommend surgery. There are a few different types of surgery that may be recommended. These options include flap surgery, gum grafting, or Alloderm gum grafting. Flap surgery involves creating a flap in the gums for a more effective deep cleaning. Gum grafting involves transplanting gum tissue from the roof of your mouth to the affected areas. Alloderm involves the use of donated tissue, which avoids the need for additional surgical wounds in your mouth. Based on your situation, we can help to determine the best solution.
For more information on gum recession and how a scaling and root planing deep cleaning can help you, and to schedule your appointment, contact Crown Hill Smiles at (206) 204-9623 today.
