Leading Causes Why You Could Have Receding Gums and How To Prevent It

THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR GUMS
Although your teeth are an essential part of how attractive your smile looks, your gums are equally as important. This amazing tissue in your mouth is the substructure of your smile and performs the vital functions of holding your teeth in place and shielding their sensitive roots. Therefore, gum recession is more than just an aesthetic issue; it is a worrisome oral health condition. If you want to keep your gums in good health, you have to be aware of the most frequent causes of gum recession. From there, you can adapt your habits and oral health routine to defend against gum recession. Also, if you currently have receding gums, there are a lot of options for treatments that can assist in healing your gumline. At MINT dentistry in Heights, our knowledgeable team of dental professionals offers both preventive care and the most effective interventions for gum recession, which are selected according to the reason behind your gum erosion. Continue reading to learn more about receding gums, the causes, and common treatment methods. Local patients who have questions about the health of their gums and wish to keep their teeth and gums looking sexy can plan an oral health examination with a dental practitioner in Houston, TX.

ALL ABOUT GUM RECESSION
Gum erosion happens when the soft gumline begins to withdraw from the teeth. An increasing amount of the enamel becomes exposed until, gradually, the tooth roots are also exposed. Gum recession generally won't occur abruptly. Often, patients will begin to notice symptoms such as inflamed and painful gums that bleed easily. Pus along your gumline and persistent bad breath (halitosis) are also signs that usually precede receding gums. When you notice any of them, you need to set up an appointment with your dental practitioner in Houston, TX as soon as possible. If receding gums are neglected, your teeth can loosen and fall out, since the gum tissues aren't strong enough to hold them secured.

COMMON CAUSES OF GUM RECESSION
Sadly, receding gums are not an unusual dental problem, especially for people past 40 years old. There are a lot of different causes of gum recession, which can aid your dental practitioner in choosing the best way to treat yours. Several of the most common reasons behind receding gums are:

• CLENCHING OR GRINDING TEETH
  A large number of people clench their teeth and jaws when they are stressed during the day or as they sleep (nocturnal bruxism). The intensity of clenching and grinding erodes your teeth and oral soft tissue.
• SMOKING OR CHEWING TOBACCO
  The dangerous toxins in any tobacco products can damage your gums. In addition, while they don't contain tobacco, the viscous components in e-cigarettes and vaping liquid are also dangerous. Discuss quitting tobacco with your doctor and then visit your dental practitioner to discuss ways to enhance your oral health.
• INCONSISTENT DENTAL CARE
  Neglecting to brush and floss every day allows food remnants and plaque to build up between your teeth, which can lead to gum (periodontal) disease. Gum disease is a leading reason that people start to develop gum recession. Flossing is particularly important in cleaning this accumulation from your gumline and helping blood circulation.
• MISALIGNED BITES AND UNEVEN TEETH
  Similar to tooth grinding, irregularly positioned teeth and malocclusion (bite misalignment) can place extra weight on your teeth, gums, and jawbone. Plan an appointment with your dentist in Houston, TX to discuss dental options like Invisalign to gently change your bite into the correct alignment.
• PERIODONTAL DISEASE
  The most frequent cause of gum recession is periodontitis, the latest phase of periodontal disease. This inflammation in your soft tissue will likely lead to gum recession if not promptly treated.
• HORMONE CHANGES
  The shifting hormones that women have during puberty, pregnancy, and throughout menopause can lead to worsening gum inflammation and increased discomfort. It is quite important to avoid gingivitis during pregnancy, since it has the potential to affect the health of the pregnant woman and the child.
• GENETICS
  Hereditary factors can make you vulnerable to gum recession, which means it will be more important to be vigilant about your teeth and gums. Ask whether any close relatives have had gum disease and then inform your dentist.
• BRUSHING YOUR TEETH TOO OFTEN
  While it may strike you as unusual, brushing your teeth too aggressively can also lead to gum recession. Brushing too much and too harshly slowly wears down the soft tissue. It's important to be using a brush with soft bristles when you clean your teeth and gums.

OPTIONS FOR MANAGING RECEDING GUMS
To determine the correct treatment for your gum recession, your dentist will have to identify the cause. Receding gums caused by periodontal (gum) disease will be treated in relation to how serious your condition is. For patients who present with the initial stage of periodontal disease, commonly known as gingivitis, dentists typically do a number of scaling and root planing (SRP) sessions. A nonsurgical procedure, SRP therapy scrapes away the accumulated plaque inside your gum pockets and polishes away pits in the enamel to prevent future accumulation. If SRP deep cleaning is not able to restore your oral health, or if you have the more advanced stage of gum disease (periodontitis), your dentist might perform periodontal surgery, or he or she may refer you to an oral surgeon. During gum surgery, incisions will be created in your gums to enter farther into your gum pockets and clean any accumulation along your tooth roots. Both SRP treatments and periodontal surgery are typically followed by a cycle of prescription antibiotics to kill any surviving bacteria. Following SRP treatment or periodontal surgery, your dentist will allow some time for your gums to heal and regenerate. In cases where your gumline remains insufficient, periodontal plastic surgery could be performed. Gingival grafts generally take tissue from other areas of your mouth, such as the roof of your mouth, to increase coverage where necessary along your gumline. Man-made and donor grafts can also be used for individuals who don't have adequate tissue to create a healthy gumline. After you have recovered from gingival grafting, it is vital that you follow a consistent home oral hygiene routine and attend regular appointments with your dental practitioner in Houston, TX for yearly dental examinations and twice-yearly professional cleanings.

IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF YOUR GUMS
Your gums are vital to your overall dental well-being, so you need to be careful with your gums in order to achieve a brilliant, healthy smile. Schedule a tooth and gum exam with a dentist if you have questions about gum disease or receding gums. At MINT dentistry in Heights, our experienced staff of dental professionals offers diagnoses and many treatment options for receding gums, including SRP therapy, gum surgery, and gingival grafting. Call our office in Houston, TX to schedule consultations for your family.