Receding gums are one of the signs of advanced gum disease.
They also are part of the reason gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. Your gums play an important role in your oral health.
They protect your roots, and they help to hold your teeth in place.
If your gums look like they are pulling away from your teeth, then you should make an appointment at Beaumont Family Dentistry in Lexington if you live anywhere in Central Kentucky.
Dentists in our three offices have completed training in the latest techniques for treating gum recession. We will tell you more about this procedure in a moment.
But first, we want you to understand why your gums may be receding.
The Causes Of Gum Recession
Gum recession doesn’t normally happen overnight. (If it does, then you really should call Beaumont Dentistry right away.)
If there was just one cause of receding gums, it would be simple to prevent. The truth is that a number of factors can contribute to your receding gums.
Some of them you can control; some of them you can’t. Regardless, it’s important to know what those causes are so you will know if you may be at risk. Here are some common factors:
◼︎ Periodontal disease — Gum disease is caused by bacteria that live inside your mouth. Gum recession can be a symptom of periodontitis, which should be treated by a dental professional.
◼︎ Poor oral hygiene — We recommend that you have a daily oral hygiene routine that includes brushing twice daily and flossing once every day. We also recommend that you visit one of our three dentist offices in Lexington a couple times every year. If you aren’t doing these things, you are inviting bacteria to attack your gums.
◼︎ Brushing too hard — Just as you can brush too little, you can also brush too much. If you brush too hard, you can wear down the enamel on your teeth and damage your gum tissue. When you brush, you should use a soft-bristled toothbrush. If the bristles are flattening against your teeth as you brush, then you are likely brushing too hard.
◼︎ Hormone changes — This is an issue women should be particularly aware of during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. The hormone changes that are part of these times of life can create conditions that make you more susceptible to gum disease.
◼︎ Genetics — You are probably already aware that balding is a more likely if baldness runs in your family. Well, your receding gumline can be influenced by your genes just like your receding hairline.
◼︎ Teeth grinding — When you grind your teeth or clench your teeth together, this generates extra force. The extra force on your teeth can create problems with your gums as well. (For what it’s worth, we have ways to help your address this problem.)
◼︎ Bite issues or misaligned teeth — We encourage patients with alignment issues to consider orthodontic care for reasons above and beyond having a nice smile. With your teeth are misaligned, this can put added pressure on your gums, which can lead to gum recession.
◼︎ Lip or tongue piercings — This kind of body piercing has become more popular. Just be aware that your jewelry can irritate your gums.
◼︎ Tobacco use — Tobacco causes a lot of problems. One of them is increasing your risk for gum disease, which also increases your risk for receding gums.
A Better Way To Treat Gum Recession
We are proud that we can now use the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique for our patients at Beaumont Family Dentistry.
This revolutionary procedure was developed by Dr. John Chao, and it has transformed how we are able to fix receding gums.
Other treatments may require the use of a scalpel to cut into your gum tissue and multiple appointments before the treatment is complete. You may need one or more gum grafts to replace gum tissue that has been lost. You might need sutures to close your gum tissue, too.
As a result, you could need several days to recover from your gum surgery.
With the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique, you can be treated in a single dental visit. With this technique, we only need to make small incisions so we can use a special tool to change the position of your remaining gum tissue.
Within a day or two, you should be able to return to normal activities. Most patients don’t need anything more than a few pain relievers during their recovery.
Call Today If You Have Any Concerns About Gum Recession
Receding gums are a problem that you should address as quickly as possible. If you have any concerns about this issue, call the nearest Beaumont Family Dentistry or use our online form to request an appointment today.