Gum recession is a common dental problem that causes pain and sensitivity. Many people don’t know they have gum recession, because it occurs gradually. Receding gums are a clear sign of gum disease, which many people might ignore. “Gingival Recession,” otherwise known as receding gums, is a condition where the diseased tissue around a tooth begins to wear away or pull back. Research has shown that 50 percent of people suffer from some sort of recession with their gums.
Unfortunately, having receding gums can be painful for your teeth, causing them to become sensitive. Common signs and symptoms for receding gums are when they are swollen, red or even bleeding. Some people will experience frequent bad breath, loose teeth, and even sores or pus surrounding the teeth and gums. Until now, dentists would cut and remove tissue from the roof of the mouth and then graft it onto the receded gum.
Gum recession is not something you want to ignore. If you think your gums are receding, make an appointment to see your dentist. There are treatments that can repair the gum and prevent further damage.
Causes of Gum Recession:
- Genetics
- Overly aggressive tooth brushing or flossing
- Gum trauma
Receding Gums Treatment
If you are only mildly affected by receding gums, that’s great, as catching it early means that you likely won’t require professional treatment to fix it. Your dentist will help you identify the cause and will instruct you in how to address it. You may have to re-evaluate your flossing habits, get a mouth guard and buy a different toothbrush.
If you do need treatment, your dentist will work with a periodontist, a gum specialist, to decide on the best course of action. Along with helping you change the habits that caused the gum recession, your dentist will determine whether you would benefit from a special, deeper cleaning called a scaling and root planing. This is frequently the solution when your gum recession is caused by periodontitis. You will generally receive a new toothbrush and instructions in how best to care for your mouth to help it recover. Depending on the cause of your gum recession, you may have to have surgical treatment.
For help with your receding gums, or if you think you may have this issue, call Dedicated Dental at (702) 566-5509 to request an appointment.
