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If you have swollen, painful, exposing, and infected gums, then it’s time to be alert. Because gum recession is one common problem that affects the overall health of the teeth by producing margin in gums, pullbacks, exposing teeth, and damages teeth root. Basically, if you have “pockets” or “gaps” between your teeth and gums, you can say that you have a gum recession. These gaped areas can be home to many disease-causing bacteria.
Besides being so problematic, it is a common issue nowadays. Even some people do not even know that they have receding gum. It starts with tooth sensitivity and travels along the way, destroying your oral health. It is not something that you can ignore because it can lead to many problems, so let’s make an appointment with the dentist before it’s too late. So this article will help you to get the answer to the question “how to stop receding gums from getting worse.”
Diagnosis and treatment of disease
If you want to address the issue with your dentist, then he will ask you a few questions and try to know the underlying cause of the disease. Your dentist will start by measuring the depth of gums and infection. A healthy tooth pocket has a length of 1 to 3 mm, and if the gap is larger, then it indicates some gum disease. There can be various reasons for gum recession, and one of the most common reasons is gum disease. Your doctor will halt the decision make a root planning procedure that will involve the removal of plaque, bacteria, and infection that is accumulated on your teeth and on the gum line. Once it is removed now, your mouth is clean and smooth, which will inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and provide a chance for healing. In a few extreme cases, a surgical procedure is necessary. It can be gum graft surgery or flaps surgery. A flap surgery will correct the gum disease by lifting it up and removing the bacteria. It will target build-up on the hidden places. The gums can swell in this kind of procedure, but it is a sign of healing. It can be painful, but it is a very effective method for treating gum disease.
Factors for receding gums
Although it is a serious problem, many people still remain unaware until there is major and Irreversible damage done. It will make your teeth appear obvious and noticeable, but their development takes long. Here are some common factors that can cause residing gum.
Genes
genes have a very strong effect on your overall health and development. If you have defective genes, then it can lead to gum disease. In fact, some studies show that there are 20% more chances of developing gum disease if any of your ancestors had it.
Periodontal disease
This disease can be the main cause of gum recession because it is a bacterial gum infection that can easily destroy your gum tissues and damage the supporting bones that are holding your teeth in the correct place.
Aggressive tooth brushing habits
Some people might think that aggressive tooth brushing can be helpful in removing plaque and food particles. But if you brush very aggressively, then it’s totally wrong. because it will damage your tooth enamel and recede your gums
Inadequate dental care
Although Dental Care is still very important, some people do not consider it important. Inadequate brushing habits, wrong flossing, and rinsing teeth with an antibacterial mouthwash can turn the plaque into Tatar. All the hard substances will build in between your teeth, and sometimes it is very difficult to remove. Even though you cannot remove it at home and need to go to a professional to clean it, that can lead to gum recession.
Hormonal changes
Women are susceptible to hormonal changes. When levels of a few female hormones rise more than normal during pregnancy, puberty, and menopause, it can make the gums more sensitive and vulnerable to many oral problems like gum recession.
Some other factors that can contribute to building up of receding gums are
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Misaligned teeth
- Grinding your teeth
How to stop receding gum from getting worse
Gum recession is very damaging for your oral health, but a dentist can treat it. Your dentist will start by deep cleaning the affected area, and this process is called tooth scaling and root planing. All the plaque and tartar built up inside the teeth and on the root surface of the gums is removed very carefully, and the exposed root is smoothed out.
So it’s become difficult for bacteria to attack. A few antibiotics are also given to get rid of harmful bacteria. Sometimes the gum recession is very serious, and it cannot be removed by deep cleaning, so it may need surgery to repair the receding gum.
Types of surgeries for receding gum
For stubborn and severe infection of gums recession, you can undergo a few surgical procedures,
Open flap root scaling and flapping
In this procedure, the affected gum tissues are folded back, and harmful bacteria are removed very carefully. Then the gums are placed back to the place over the tooth root. It will also reduce the size of pockets.
Soft tissue graft
A connective tissue graft is the most common soft tissue graft procedure. For this, the dentist will cut the flap of your palate, and the tissue underneath it is removed, and after that, the flap is placed back in its place.
Regeneration
Sometimes, the bone supporting the teeth is destroyed, and a procedure is carried out to regenerate it. In these few regenerative materials like graft tissue, membrane, or a tissue-stimulating protein is applied as it will regenerate the bones and tissues for dental support.
Prevention for getting the gum recession worse
If you have good dental cleaning practice, it will be best because good oral practices are best than any dental procedure. You can start by brushing your teeth two times a day and visiting your dentist two times a year.
But if you have receding gums, then you need to visit the dentist more often. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and ask for the proper way of brushing. Other ways to prevent your gums from getting worse are
- Eat a balanced and healthy diet
- Monitor all the changes that occur in your mouth
- Remove a water flosser to remove the plaque build-up
- Quit smoking