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Receding gums are painful and cause a lot of trouble for the sufferer. They can be identified by the gumline disappearing from below the lip line and the tooth being exposed nearer to the root. This leaves the root nerves vulnerable to temperatures and other irritants. 

Poor oral health detaches the gums, pulling them away from the teeth. Then, it forms pockets between the tooth and gum and these gaps then fill with bacteria. The bacteria affects the bone and the gum tissue. If untreated, gum recession can lead to severe pain and tooth loss.

The upside is that gum recession is a gradual procession, and you can intervene way before it is at an advanced stage. 

What Causes Receding Gums?

Bad oral hygiene, as well as periodontal disease, contributes to gum recession. But, receding gums occur in people with good oral hygiene too, and could be from underlying causes like malnutrition.

The primary causes of gum recession include:

• Dehydration,
• Chronic inflammatory periodontal disease,
• Poor diet,
• Smoking,
• Alcohol consumption,
• Poor oral hygiene,
• Genetic predisposition,
• Periodontal treatments such as surgery,
• Trauma to the teeth from hard brushing,
• Incorrect toothbrush usage, and
• Aggressive flossing.

Plaque buildup on the teeth causes:

• Inflammation of the gums: This condition, also known as gingivitis, leads to periodontitis.
• Periodontitis is a disease that creates spaces between the gums and teeth, as well as the loss of connective fibres and bone around the tooth roots. This can lead to receding gums and bone loss.

 

How Can You Prevent Receding Gums?

Well, there are many ways to try and avoid receding gums. To start, a healthy diet and proper dental hygiene routine are the best fight against any sort of gum disease, as well as adequate hydration. 

Be Gentle

When cleaning your teeth, be careful not to brush your teeth and gums too harshly! Being too rough can injure the gum and make it vulnerable to infection. It can also cause them to recede, leaving the teeth exposed at the location of the trauma. 

When you brush your teeth, only the bristles should be cleaning your teeth. Many people make a mistake by thinking that the harder you push down onto the brush, the better you clean — that isn’t true. In actuality, you are injuring the susceptible tissue of your gum with the plastic part of the toothbrush. 

Use The Correct Toothbrush

Besides the harmful effects of brushing your teeth too hard, even if you brush with the proper pressure, the incorrect bristles can hurt your gums and hasten the progress of your gum recession. When selecting your toothbrush, always choose a reputable brand that will use proper materials safe for teeth and gums. 

Also, use a toothbrush with soft or medium bristles. Do not buy a toothbrush with hard or stiff bristles. These are only to be used under the supervision of a dentist, as they can be prescribed to wear down thick tartar at home. 

Stop All Tobacco Products

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you. It is one of the leading causes of many conditions and diseases like cancer and oral ailments like receding gums. Whether you are smoking, vaping or chewing tobacco, it all harms your mouth. 

If you quit smoking or chewing tobacco products, you can reduce the number of bacteria that enters your mouth, helping prevent cavities, decay and gum recession, says Smile Shop.

Smokers’ mouths are more prone to inflammation from the heat and chemical residue that sits on the teeth’ gum and tissue. Smokers usually have more plaque and tartar buildup, which negatively affects the gums and pushes them back significantly when the plaque hardens.

Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen carried in the bloodstream, making it more difficult for the body to fight off infection. In other words, smoking compromises the immune system, which slows down the healing process of already infected gums. This can potentially lead to long-term gum disease and, eventually, tooth loss.

If you notice that you have a receding gumline, the best course of action is to visit your dentist for a thorough check-up. They will be able to assess the damage and investigate the cause. Affinity Dental gives you several plans to choose from so that you can obtain the benefits that fit your and your family’s unique needs.