Looking Long in the Tooth: What Causes Gums to Recede?

When it comes to your gums, you likely have a sense of the problems they may face. These tissues could start to swell, bleed, change color, become sensitive, etc. However, do you know what causes gums to recede? This recession issue isn’t discussed much, so you may not understand how or why it happens. Luckily, your Fanwood dentist is here to explain the truth behind it. Read on to learn about receding gums, what causes them, and how dentists can treat them.

What Does it Mean for Gums to Recede?

If your gums are faring poorly, they may do something besides bleed or swell. They could begin to develop a problem called gum recession.

Gum recession occurs when your gum tissues slowly pull away from your teeth. This process can greatly harm your oral health, as it exposes the roots of your teeth. When bacteria reach these normally-protected roots, they cause severe tooth decay and sensitivity. Such problems would put you at risk of tooth loss instead of just lost gum tissue.

Common Causes of Gum Recession

Overall, several factors can cause or worsen gum recession. These are the following:

• Poor Oral Hygiene – Your gums can become inflamed and infected when plaque builds around them. When that happens, the tissues will slowly start to recede.
• Tooth Grinding – Grinding your teeth doesn’t just wear down your enamel; it can also cause gum recession. Due to the pressure it generates, this habit may make the pink tissues recede.
• Overbrushing – If you brush too hard, you may irritate your gums. This irritation would then make the tissues recede.
• Tobacco Use – Tobacco irritates the gums and can cause gum disease, issues which both cause gum recession.

How Do You Treat Receding Gums?

You technically can’t reverse gum recession; the receded tissues are destroyed and won’t grow back. That said, the right treatment can keep it from causing more damage. You just need to see a local dentist for help.

Dentists have a few ways to treat receding gums. When the underlying issue is gum disease, they’ll often perform scaling and root planing as a solution. This option removes plaque from around the gumline to keep bacteria from making the gums recede. If the recession stems from teeth grinding, dentists can also offer a nightguard that stops you from clenching your jaw.

As you can see, many things can cause gums to recede. Note the ones above so you won’t end up “long in the tooth!”

About the Practice

Scotch Plains Fanwood Dental Care is based in Boston, MA. Led by its four excellent dentists, our practice takes a more personalized approach to dental care. Our services span preventive, cosmetic, and restorative work, as well as emergency oral treatments. This setup ensures our team can always get your smile exactly what it needs! For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (908)-322-3222.