Thankfully, there is an alternative to gum surgery. Known as
Can You Reverse Gum Disease? Yes, you can. At its earliest stages, you can reverse the early signs of gum disease by becoming more diligent with flossing, brushing and using a tongue scraper. Tongue scrapers can be found at drugstores, but even toothbrushes are now designed with a tongue scraper.
It's never too late to seek treatment for gum disease, and the degree of treatment you require will depend on how advanced it is.
Gum disease is the most common cause of bone loss around the teeth. Whilst it isn't possible to regrow the bone around the teeth naturally you can prevent further destruction by developing and maintaining good oral hygiene.
Advanced Gum Disease (Periodontitis) Can't Be Reversed
Irreversible damage will be done to your teeth and gums, and it will never be possible to completely eliminate the infection.
While your gums won't grow back on their own, surgical treatment can be used to replace the missing tissue, and restore both your appearance and your oral health. Gum grafting involves taking soft tissue from another part of the mouth and grafting it onto your gums.
Gum veneers are used to cover unsightly gaps between teeth that have been subject to gingival and periodontal disease. Gum veneers are removable devices made of acrylic. The process can take a period of a few weeks to create.
As most surgical procedures, gum grafting surgery implicates risk of infection, bleeding, and reaction to anesthesia. Besides, severe pain, bone rejection, inflammation, swelling, nerve injury, bacterial exposure of wounds, loose sutures, uneven healing, and more…
Gum grafting is a highly safe and effective procedure; it has been tested and proven successful in treating countless cases of receding and thinning gums due to aggressive brushing and gum disease. Still, complications and infections may occur, especially without proper post-op care.
Saltwater rinses are an excellent at-home treatment for inflamed or receding gums. Simply dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and rinse your mouth for 30 seconds. Rinse with salt water two to three times each day.
The good news is, this receded gum tissue can be restored. The traditional method of treating gum recession is through a gum graft, which entails donor tissue being harvested from another area of the mouth—usually the palate—and transplanted onto the receding area to cover the exposed tooth root.
One of the most important things you can do to avoid further gum recession is to brush and floss your teeth twice daily. If your gums have receded due to aggressive brushing, be mindful of the force you are applying while brushing and use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
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.
Saving teeth from periodontal disease is possible if you detect the signs and symptoms early or regularly visit your dentist for cleanings and exams. Let the condition progress unhindered, and tooth loss should be considered as an eventuality.
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.
Gum grafting boasts high success rates of over 90%. This procedure gives you the best chance of treating gum recession and improving your overall oral health. Left untreated, gum recession can result in cavities, severe gum disease, tooth mobility and even eventual tooth loss.
On average, a gum graft can cost between $600 and $1,200 for a small area around one tooth. Dental insurance often covers at least part of the cost of a gum graft. If it is deemed medically necessary, medical insurance may provide some coverage for gum graft surgery as well since it is a surgical procedure.
A gum graft is an easy procedure. You will receive sedatives so you will not feel any pain or discomfort during the process. You may receive local anesthesia that keeps you awake while numbing your gums. Your dentist will then extract some tissue from your mouth.
Oral surgery designed to stimulate new bone growth in the jaw is known as bone regeneration. The procedure is performed by experienced periodontists, often in preparation for dental implant surgery. However, it may also be performed as a preventive procedure to safeguard against tooth loss.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a condition in which one or more parts of the jawbones become dead (necrotic) and exposed in the mouth. These fragments of bone poke through the gums and may easily be mistaken for broken teeth. Both the upper (maxilla) and lower (mandible) jaw can be affected.
Use mouthwash every day
Therapeutic mouthwash helps prevent gum recession and disease, reduces the rate of tartar buildup, reduces the amount of plaque on your teeth, and removes food particles trapped between teeth and elsewhere in the mouth.
How Far Can Gums Recede? Gums can recede to the extent at which the uppermost portion of the root becomes visible. Damage can also extend to the ligament and the bone, where it cannot be seen. Prompt care for receding gums is important to avoid significant consequences.