There Must be Something I can do to Stop My Gums from Receding
Dr. Dassenko – January 2010

Receding gums make teeth look long and unattractive, and they also threaten the health of those teeth because they expose the more vulnerable part of the tooth, the root, making it more sensitive to hot and cold foods and more susceptible to decay. If the gums are “shrinking away” from the tooth then they are leaving the root unprotected from the environment of the mouth.

The best way to stop any kind of health issue or dental problem is, of course, to arrest it before it begins to happen. That means preventive oral health or preventive medicine. Brushing and flossing and eating a good diet are part of that prevention, as are regularly scheduled visits to your dentist so that he or she can clean your teeth, inspect them, and perform any needed procedures like gum treatments or fillings. In the case of receding gums, prevention is two-fold: keeping the gums free of infection so they are less apt to recede, and not brushing too hard so as to avoid mechanically pushing the gums away from the tooth. One of the ways to avoid brushing too hard is to use an electric toothbrush such as the Sonic Complete or Sonic Care toothbrush which is held in place as it cleans rather than scrubbed back and forth as are manual toothbrushes.

During your dental visits, the dentist will use special instruments to measure all around the teeth and gum line. By doing so the dentist can monitor and detect any changes – such as how much, if any, the gums are pulling away or receding from the base of the tooth and whether there are signs of infection like bleeding or swelling. Dentists who watch your gums and teeth can spot any disturbing developments and deal with them before they get out of hand. That might just mean giving you a good oral cleaning and check-up and showing you how to do a better job of brushing and flossing. Or it might mean treating your gums to control a gum infection that is present. Your dentist might even ask you to change from being a smoker to becoming a non-smoker, or encourage you to give up candy or other harmful foods.

If the gum recession has become severe – so that there are noticeable gaps between the gums and teeth and there is a risk of loosing a tooth or teeth – then the dentist may have to perform a periodontal surgery to replenish the gum tissue. This can be accomplished by grafting or adding more tissue to the existing gum. A graft material called Alloderm has been developed which makes the gum-grafting surgery less painful and produces excellent results. Once the graft takes hold it protects the tooth root and prevents further gum recession. And with good follow-up therapy the gums can regain their lost vibrancy and start growing back into place as normal.

A small amount of shrinking of the gums may be natural, so it is not necessary to become alarmed if you start to notice minor changes in your gums in relation to your teeth. But don’t try to diagnose the situation on your own, and don’t make the mistake of ignoring it or avoiding dentist visits. Your dentist should keep an eye on your gums throughout your entire lifetime, and then he or she can help to ensure that the issue of receding gums won’t become a problem for you. With the help of a qualified and reliable dentist, eating a good diet, drinking plenty of water, getting regular exercise, and brushing and flossing each day, you can enjoy a healthy smile and good gums that contribute to good teeth for a lifetime.