Superior oral health care is an essential aspect of maintaining a spectacular smile and warding off receding gums. The causes of receding gums vary significantly from person to person. It can be due to personal oral hygiene care, injury, genetics, and several more reasons. If you know the signs of receding gums and follow the best oral care practices possible, you can help prevent gum recession.
Keeping your gums and teeth healthy is one of the fundamental parts of maintaining overall health. However, that may not seem possible if you have receding gums. We can help you get the treatment that you need to maintain your oral health and keep your gums in working order. If you have concerns about your receding gums, contact the experts at Lovett Dental Northside today at 713-691-5551.
What Are Receding Gums?
Your gums are made up of pink tissues that are in your mouth. If they are healthy, they cover the roots of your teeth with a layer of dense tissue and blood vessels. This tissue connects to the rest of your mouth. If the gums are healthy, they’re a healthy pink color, but if you’re suffering from gum disease, they’re a deep red color. When your gums are intact, they should cover the root of the tooth in order to protect them. When gum recession occurs, a person can experience a range of symptoms, exposing the roots of your teeth. These symptoms may include:
- Bacteria
- Plaque
- Tooth decay
- Tooth loss
It’s important to get treatment for this condition as soon as possible to ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy.
Causes of Receding Gums
Many people experience receding gums due to the development of periodontal disease. This type of dental disease is due to inflammation and infection of the mouth. Such inflammation can relate to excessive bacterial deposit accumulation and several additional contributing factors, such as:
- Damaged fillings
- Poor oral hygiene
- Genetics
- Hormonal changes
- Medications
- Immune disorders
- The use of tobacco products
- Stress
Improper or forceful brushing can also attribute to gum recession. Teeth grinding, clenching, and injury can be causes of receding gums as well. A critical element to avoiding gum recession is to know the signs. It’s important to talk to experts such as the team at Lovett Dental Northside to ensure that your teeth and gums stay as healthy as possible.
Signs of Gum Recession
When you have or might be developing periodontal disease, you will show a few telltale signs. One sign is that of gingivitis symptoms. These include swelling, bleeding, and redness of the gums.
Periodontitis is the second stage, which then leads to periodontal disease and gum recession. This stage occurs when the connective tissue and gums pull away from a tooth or multiple teeth. You might also experience teeth sensitivity to hot and cold food and beverages. Some people will experience bad breath, pain at the gum line, loose teeth, tooth root exposure, and visibly shrinking gums.
Additional Potential Concerns
If you do not seek treatment and follow certain dental practices, your receding gums could lead to additional oral health concerns. Receding gums that go without treatment can lead to oral surgery and tooth removal. It is also possible your teeth may experience bone loss, which will lead to loose teeth, decaying teeth, and issues with teeth falling out. Persistent bleeding gums and the prolonging of bad breath are additional concerns as well.
Preventative Measures and Treatment
The best way to prevent receding gums is to practice good oral health care and visit reputable dental practitioners, such as Lovett Dental Northside, regularly for routine checkups and cleanings.
If you require treatment for receding gums, we provide solutions that are unique to the individual and the progression of the gum recession. In some cases, you may only require a change in your brushing and flossing habits along with mild over-the-counter medication. Some individuals may require scaling and root planing to remove tartar and plaque from under the gumline. Various types of oral surgery may be necessary. It is also possible you may require new dentures that fit correctly.
Lovett Dental Northside Services
Regardless of your receding gum and dental care needs, Lovett Dental Northside offers a full range of services for all dental concerns. Lovett Dental Northside features multidisciplinary dentistry, including:
Individuals with receding gums have various dental services available at Lovett Dental Northside, such as veneers, implant-supported dentures, cosmetic dentistry, and general dental care.
Gum recession can lead to teeth loss, a need for oral surgery, and more if not treated swiftly and adequately. Don’t let your concerns about receding gums stop you from being proud of your smile. If you are worried about periodontic disease, contact Lovett Dental Northside at 713-691-5551 for advanced solutions and regular checkups.