It's caused by a number of factors, including aggressive brushing, smoking and even genetics. Treatments include antibiotics, antimicrobial mouth rinses and surgery. Gum recession can't be reversed, but treatment can prevent it from getting worse.
If your gums have receded due to periodontal disease, it may be possible to halt the recession with a scale and root planing procedure, a simple procedure that involves removing plaque and bacteria that have accumulated on the surfaces of your teeth and below the gumline.
It will take about 6 months for full gum maturation to complete.
Yes. Regardless of the stage of infection, you can stop the progression of gum disease. The initial phase is the easiest to manage as it only requires maintaining proper oral care and dental checkups. Further stages will require specialized treatment such as scaling and root planing.
Unfortunately, gum recession cannot be reversed. The tissue will not grow back but there are specific steps to take to keep the recession from getting worse. Successful treatment ultimately depends on how your gum recession originated in the first place.
Over Brushing
One of the biggest causes of prematurely receding gums is brushing too hard. Of course we brush our teeth to try and improve our oral hygiene but unfortunately it's all too easy for us to get somewhat overzealous and the result is that we end up brushing away our gums.
Periodontal disease is not a life-threatening condition. However, it might require you to seek treatments from various medical professionals when the bacteria from the infection spread to your bloodstream to affect your overall health.
Periodontitis is the second stage of gum disease. Once you reach this stage, the damage done to your gum tissue is irreversible. Your gums may form a pocket below the gumline that traps food and bacteria. Other signs include increased swelling or redness of the gums and persistent bad breath even after brushing.
Periodontitis Stage 1: Initial. Periodontitis Stage 2: Moderate. Periodontitis Stage 3: Severe with potential for tooth loss. Periodontitis Stage 4: Severe with potential for loss of all the teeth.
When gum recession occurs, "pockets," or gaps, form between the teeth and gum line, making it easy for disease-causing bacteria to build up. If left untreated, the supporting tissue and bone structures of the teeth can be severely damaged, and may ultimately result in tooth loss.
In some cases, it may be too late for gum grafting to save the gums. If your gums are severely damaged, receding so far back that they expose the tooth's root, or if there is significant bone loss from advanced gum disease, gum grafting may not be able to restore them to their healthy state.
Poor oral hygiene can cause receding gums in two ways. First, if you do not brush your teeth properly, some plaque remains, which can buildup up tartar. Tartar breeds disease-causing bacteria which affect the gums, causing them to recede towards the tooth root. The second is through aggressive hygiene.
Receding Gums Increases with Age
The study found that from age 30-39, about 38% of individuals had receding gums. This increased to 71% for people aged 50-59, and was more than 90% for people age 80-89. Initially, women had much lower rates of receding gums, but by age 40, the rates become about the same.
There are many reasons why gums may recede, including: Periodontal disease: This bacterial gum infection destroys gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth. It is the main cause of gum recession. Genetics: Some people are more susceptible to gum disease, regardless of how well they care for their teeth.
Advanced stages of gum disease typically produce irreversible damage to bone and connective tissues; however, even severe gum disease can be effectively treated by slowing its progression and enhancing periodontal health.
Stage 3: Advanced Periodontitis
As the infection worsens, the pockets may also fill with pus. At this point your teeth might loosen or fall out. This stage of gum disease is irreversible, though dental implants (replacement teeth) are one option for people suffering from serious periodontitis.
Stage 4: Progressive Periodontitis
This stage involves teeth looseness, shifting teeth, red, swollen and painful gums, often forming an abscess. The end result — eating and even smiling is hard and painful, and you may lose most of your teeth.
If you have periodontitis, your teeth start moving in the mouth, making tooth loss a reality. However, if you receive gum disease treatment early, you can preserve your natural teeth and prevent the need to search for replacement options.
However, if a tooth is severely damaged, your dentist may not be able to save it. In these cases, they will normally recommend that the tooth be removed. Dentists may recommend removal in the following circumstances: Dental injury resulting in a cracked or fractured tooth or root.
But the condition may get even worse if left untreated. They may experience receding gums, loosening teeth, or tooth loss when it progresses into severe periodontal disease. If you wonder if you can live with this disease, the answer is yes.
Receding gums are an oral health concern when they get to the point where tooth roots are exposed. It leads to a higher risk of decay, infection, and loss. Therefore, if you suspect your gums are receding, or a dental professional has brought it up to you, it's time to seek treatment.
In periodontitis, the gum and connective tissues pull away, and a pocket forms between the tooth and gum that can collect bacteria. Over time, the bacteria cause further inflammation. If the gums recede too much, it may result in bone loss, which can cause teeth to loosen or fall out.
The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.