Receding Gums: Why It Happens and How to Stop It Getting Worse
Receding Gums means the Teeth that look longer, a notch at the gumline, or a zing from cold water are the usual signs of gum recession. Lost gum does not grow back on its own, but the causes can be stopped and the exposed roots protected.
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Gum Recession Is Common and Often Missed
Gum recession is the gradual pulling back of the gum from the tooth, exposing the root surface. Roots have no enamel, so they are more sensitive, decay faster and stain more easily. Recession affects most adults to some degree by middle age, and because it happens slowly and painlessly, people usually notice it only when a tooth looks longer or starts to react to cold.
At Yours Dental Hygiene we measure recession on every tooth at your assessment, so we can tell you whether it is stable or progressing.
Causes
Brushing, Gum Disease, Grinding and Anatomy
The two biggest causes are brushing too hard with a firm brush and periodontal disease, which destroys the bone that supports the gum. Grinding and clenching flex the teeth at the gumline and create notches. Some people simply have thin gum tissue, and orthodontic movement, lip or tongue piercings, and smoking all contribute.
- Hard brushing or a scrubbing motion
- Gum disease and bone loss
- Grinding and clenching
- Thin gum tissue or prominent roots
- Smoking and vaping
- Piercings that rub the gum
Finding the cause is the whole point of the assessment. Treating recession without stopping the cause just delays it.
Can Gums Grow Back?
No, but Recession Can Be Stopped
Gum tissue that has receded does not regenerate. What we can do is stop it progressing, protect the exposed root, and, where recession is severe or affects your smile, refer you to a periodontist for a gum graft that covers the root with tissue taken from the palate.
Most recession never needs surgery. It needs the cause removed and the root protected.
How We Treat It
Recession care at Yours Dental Hygiene includes:
- Measuring and photographing each area so we can track change
- Treating gum disease with scaling and root planing where present
- Desensitizing varnish or bonded resin on exposed roots
Protecting Exposed Roots
Because roots decay faster than enamel, exposed roots need extra protection:
Prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste
Book a Gum Assessment If
See us when you notice:
- A tooth that looks longer than its neighbours
- A notch or groove you can feel with a fingernail at the gumline
- Sensitivity to cold on one or more teeth
- Yellow root showing below the white enamel
- Bleeding gums along with recession
- A gap opening between teeth near the gum
Is gum recession serious?
Does an electric toothbrush cause recession?
Will whitening make it worse?
Keep Your Gums Where They Are
Yours Dental Hygiene assesses and treats gum recession in southeast Edmonton with evening and weekend appointments, direct billing and CDCP coverage.
Noticed your teeth looking longer?
