Gum recession is a frequent dental problem that often goes undetected and unchecked. It is the root cause of other dental issues, such as bone loss and wiggly teeth. Receding gums can stem from various reasons, including genetics and lifestyle, that you should be careful of.
A person needs to take proper care of oral health. Healthy teeth and its surrounding not only add to the functionality and enhance a person's beauty. The following section will educate you about the various causes of gum recession alongside treatment and surgeries.
What is gum recession?
As the name suggests, gum recession is a form of gum disease that arises when the gums try to wear out from the teeth. As a result, your teeth get exposed, making them vulnerable to sensitivity and cavities. In addition, gum recession affects the functionality of the teeth to the point where brushing and chewing get difficult.
Symptoms of gum recessions
There are various symptoms apart from exposed teeth to indicate that you might need receding gum treatment. The indicators include:
- Swollen gums
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
- Sensitivity
- Gum discomfort
Causes of gum recession
The causes of gum recession range from day-to-day activity to injuries and genetics. The following are some of the common causes of gum recession.
- Putting too much pressure while brushing
- Tartar and plaque build up over the gums
- Injury of the gum tissues
- Frequent use of chewing tobacco and cigarettes
- Piercings in the mouth
- Periodontal diseases
- Old age
- Diabetes
Diagnosis of gum recession
If you experience the obvious symptoms of gum recession, you should visit a dentist. Upon recognizing the recession, your dentist will measure the extent of the damage to your teeth using an instrument called a periodontal probe.
The dentist shall also measure the amount of bone loss in the area before administering a receding gums treatment. Measuring periodontal pockets is a common diagnosis to check for bone loss, which indicates periodontal disease when reading higher than 5 millimetres.
Nonsurgical treatments
Receding gum treatment can be administered by either surgical or nonsurgical means as your dentist may think fit. Here are some nonsurgical treatments that will help you ditch the condition.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a rather cosmetic procedure where a tooth-coloured resin composite made out of resin is placed on your teeth to cover up cracks and chips. What the cover does here is that it forms a coating over the exposed parts of your teeth, which in turn makes it less noticeable.
Topical antibiotics
In case of existing periodontal diseases, your dentist will choose a thorough cleaning of your teeth which includes scaling and root planing. You will be administered local anesthesia throughout the process. In addition, an antibiotic shall be inserted in the gums to treat periodontal disease.
Orthodontics
In case of changes in shape and placement of teeth due to gum recession, our doctor might recommend braces to align the same. The idea is to allow the gum margin to retrieve the former alignment.
Surgical treatments
Surgical treatment is always a good idea to ensure proper healing and recovery. The surgery focuses on replacing your receded gums with the help of gum grafts. The grafts are carefully aligned with missing tissue before getting stitched on.
It is your dentist's discretion to choose the gum grafting procedure for you.
If you are worried about your receding gums treatment, visit us at Grandview Dental Clinic to seek further help. We ensure a therapeutic experience for your gums that will guarantee a longer periodontal life.
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