Bad breath is often a cause of bacteria and plaque build up around the gums. Gum recession occurs when the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back or wears away, exposing more of your tooth. This causes gaps or pockets to form between your teeth and gum line, paving the way for disease-causing bacteria. If gum recession is not treated, your teeth’ bone structure and supporting tissue can be damaged, resulting in tooth loss. Here is a look at the causes, signs, and treatment of receding gums.

What Causes Receding Gums?

Receding gums affect people with periodontal disease and poor oral hygiene.  You may also have gum recession because of inherited factors. These include gum thickness and the position of your teeth. Another cause of receding gums is vigorous brushing of teeth.

Other causes of gum recession include tongue or lip piercings, misaligned teeth, and thin or delicate gum tissue.

What are the Symptoms of Receding Gums?

Apart from less gum tissue, the common symptoms of receding gums include:

Treatment of Gum Recession

Receding gums cannot be reversed. However, you can prevent the problem from escalating through treatment. The treatment will vary depending on the cause of the problem. For example, if the recession is caused by hard brushing or poor oral hygiene, your dentist will recommend the appropriate toothbrush and dental hygiene behaviors.

For mild gum recession, your dentist may recommend a mouth rinse to address plaque between your teeth. A dental pick may also be prescribed for reaching hard to clean areas of your mouth. In some cases, your dentist may have to perform a deep cleaning treatment, also known as scaling and root planing. During this procedure, your dentist will clean plaque and tartar from your teeth surface and tooth roots, which is help with the bad breath.

In some cases, gum grafting may be performed to restore gum tissue. In this procedure, the dentist will take gum tissue from some other area of your mouth and attach it to the area with lost gum tissue. When the area heals, it will protect your exposed tooth root.

South Holston Dental Designs is renowned for quality dental procedures aimed at restoring your smile’s natural beauty. Located in Bristol, Va, we are committed to providing the highest dental treatment standard to our patients. If you are suffering from gum recession, call us or pay us a visit for a diagnosis and treatment. Give us a call at (276) 466-9800 or schedule an appointment today.

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