Gum recession exposes teeth roots and can cause oral health problems. Causes include gum disease, aggressive/inadequate oral hygiene, and mouth structure. Prevention includes regular dental care and soft-medium toothbrushes. Gum graft surgery may be necessary for severe cases.
Gum recession or gum recession is a dental condition characterized by the shrinkage of the gums, which exposes the roots of the teeth, potentially creating a variety of oral health problems. A patient can experience the onset of gum recession at any time, with most cases beginning in their late teens to early 40s. If left untreated, gum recession can have serious consequences, as the patient can begin to lose dentin, an important part of the teeth, and the exposed roots can become sore, painful, or infected, causing immense pain.
The causes of gum recession are many. A common cause is gum disease, which causes gum loss by inflaming and irritating the gums. The symptoms of gum disease are usually evident before the problem reaches the stage of gum loss, especially in the case of a patient who receives regular dental care, so it is possible to prevent gum recession caused by gum disease. Some gum recession is also normal with age.
This condition can also be caused by aggressive oral hygiene or inadequate oral hygiene. People who brush vigorously with stiff toothbrushes can cause gum recession, as their gums are damaged by brushing, and people who don’t brush and floss enough can cause gum loss through inflammation and infection, too. if there is no gum disease. As a general rule, soft to medium toothbrushes are best, unless a dentist specifically recommends a stiff toothbrush, and if brushing causes bleeding or soreness, a dentist should be consulted.
Sometimes, gum recession isn’t the patient’s fault. Sometimes, the structure of the mouth simply predisposes someone to gum recession, such as when the muscles in the mouth are thick at their attachment point to the gums, or when the teeth don’t grow far enough to support a thick padding of gums. Even orthodontic work such as braces can sometimes cause gum recession, usually because the patient was already predisposed to it.
When a dentist notices signs of gum recession, the first step is usually to try to prevent it from getting worse. Your dentist may also recommend regular checkups to keep an eye on your gums, so you can take action if your gum recession seems to be progressing quickly.
If gum recession is caught early, it can sometimes be prevented by changing your diet and oral hygiene. In other cases, however, a larger measure may be required. Gum graft surgery can be used to replace missing or severely damaged tissue; After the gum grafts are performed, a patient is typically given very specific care instructions to ensure that the gum grafts take in and that they remain healthy for life.
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