Receding Gums: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment

What are the signs of receding gums?

In order to diagnose you with receding gums, your dentist will examine you for the following signs and symptoms:

• Bleeding after flossing or brushing
• Swollen or red gums
• Bad breath
• Sensitive teeth
• Shrinking gum line
• Loose teeth

What is the treatment for receding gums?

The severity of your receding gums will determine how they are treated. Untreated gum recession can lead to tooth loss as there is no longer enough gum tissue to hold the tooth roots in place.

Deep cleaning

For minor gum recession, your dentist may need to deep clean the affected area. This is also referred to as tooth scaling and root planning. They will carefully remove the plaque and tartar below the gum line. Your dentist will also smooth out the exposed root area to protect it from new bacteria.

Antibiotics

In addition, your dentist may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent further infection. This may be used on its own or in combination with other treatments. Potential antibiotics come in the form of gels, oral medications, chips, mouthwashes, or toothpastes.

Do I need surgery for receding gums?

In some cases, gum recession is more severe and will require surgery to treat it. There are multiple types of surgery for gum recession:

Flap surgery

Also known as flap scaling or pocket reduction surgery, this procedure is a more extensive deep cleaning to help remove bacteria and tartar buildup. A periodontist or an oral surgeon will pull back the gums, remove the damaged tissue, and put them back in place more snugly around the teeth.

Soft tissue grafting

This procedure aims to heal the gum tissue. Your periodontist will place a synthetic membrane or piece of soft tissue (likely from the roof of your mouth) to help reinforce the receding gums and stabilize teeth.

Bone grafting

In bone grafting, your dental specialist will use fragments of your own bone, synthetic bone, or donated bone to replace the damaged bone. This allows bone to regrow and hopefully make your teeth more stable again.

What if I have receding gums on one tooth?

Receding gums can affect all or most of your teeth or it can affect one tooth. Your dentist can determine the best treatment for your particular case of gum recession.

How do I prevent receding gums?

The best ways to prevent gum recession are part of standard oral health care:

• Brush your teeth twice a day
• Floss once a day
• Avoid smoking
• Wear a night-guard if you have a habit of clenching or grinding your teeth
• See your dentist for regular cleanings and exams

If you have concerns about possible receding gums, you don’t have to wait for your next cleaning to get examined. Be sure to contact your dentist for an appointment right away for your best chance of treating and preventing gum recession.