Gum recession is a dental condition that can affect any individual, regardless of age. Moreover, you can develop this disorder even when maintaining stringent oral hygiene practices, making it a risk to everybody. When your gums start to recede, you may notice that your teeth are progressively becoming longer while your gum line becomes shorter. And this happens because your gums are steadily pulling away from the teeth. In severe cases, the roots of your teeth can grow exposed, and this poses many problems including discomfort, sensitivity and more. So what should you know about gum recession? Read on for the causes, modes of prevention and possible treatments for this oral condition.

What causes gum recession?

Gum recession can come about due to various reasons unrelated to your oral hygiene. Some of the main culprits that you should take note of include:

  • Bruxism (mainly if it goes undetected)
  • An overbite or an underbite
  • Genetics
  • Physical trauma to your teeth

Is gum recession preventable?

The moment you notice a visible change in the appearance of your teeth and gum line, it is prudent to engage in practices that will prevent further pulling away of the gums. A few of the measures that you can take include:

  • Switching to a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid further damage to your teeth. You should also strive to brush your teeth gently so that you do not cause any trauma to your gum line.
  • Daily flossing of your teeth to prevent opportunistic bacterial infections
  • Having your teeth cleaned professionally by your dentist at least biannually
  • Changing some of your lifestyle habits that could be endangering the health of your teeth such as smoking

What are some of the treatment options available?

The first course of action that your dentist will take when you develop gum recession is eliminating any gum disease present. You would also need all tooth decay addressed to minimise the risk of bacteria re-infecting your gum line.

The second possible treatment you could have is soft tissue augmentation. With this course of action, a dentist will extract soft tissue from your palate and suture this on your gum line to increase its density. If you cannot have tissue obtained from your palate, you could opt for artificial tissue instead.

The third type of treatment that is available is gum contouring. While this is typically considered a cosmetic procure for people who just do not like the appearance of their gums, it can also help in reshaping your gum line when you suffer from gum recession.

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