Gum Recession Ramsey, MN
What Is Gum Recession?
Normally, the gums surrounding our teeth come right up to the necks of the tooth like a turtle-neck sweatshirt. But if there is repeated trauma or untreated severe gum disease in the area, eventually the gum recedes away from the tooth far enough to reveal the roots of the tooth.
The recession can happen so slowly that many don’t realize it is even happening. The realization usually happens when it reaches a point causing sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures and/or touch and pressure. Why this is bad, is because when the tooth root is exposed, it makes it much more at risk for decay, deterioration and infection.
Questions about gum recession? We always want to provide you with a personalized experience that is tailored to your specific needs at Rivers Bend. If you’re thinking about your gum recession or are considering treatment, please feel free to contact our staff. They will be more than happy to answer any and all of your questions.
Rivers Bend Family Dental provides a wide range of dental procedures to make it convenient for your family to tend to all its dental needs. Our services include but are not limited
Avoiding Gum Recession
Gum recession can be prevented. But it does need your follow up with consistent oral care routines and regular scheduled dental cleanings. Make sure to do your minimum twice a day brushing . Flossing every day with good technique, because great flossing is tremendous in disrupting the constant buildup of plaque that happens on a daily basis in our mouths. Don’t forget to also find the right mouthwash on the market that is effective in lowering the bacterial loads in your mouth.
It’s also a good idea to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise routine. Not only does nutritious food and exercise make your gum and mouth heal better, it makes your overall body health better.
Finally, don’t forget about your regular followup dental checkups and cleanings at least twice a year. This can be an incredibly effective way to prevent gum disease but also to catch early signs of the disease to begin treatment.
Treating Gum Recession
If gum recession has occurred and you’re considering corrective surgery, there are a few options. It’s good to consult with your doctor to talk about the next steps. When surgery is involved, it’s normal to cover the exposed tooth roots with tissue grafts or transplants. For additional information, please contact our staff.
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Common Causes of Gum Recession
There are a few different reasons why gum recession may occur. Let’s talk about some of these reasons in more detail:
Genetics: You may be predisposed to develop gum recession and gum disease just because of your genes. If you can tell from your family history or through genetic testing, it can help you figure out preventive treatment plans. And if the damage has already occured, there are corrective options available to you. Ask your hygienist or doctor about them at your next visit.
Periodontal Disease: When advanced periodontitis or gum disease builds up a heavy load of bacteria, it can eat away the gums. It’s why it’s important to treat gum disease early on when you can. You can tell if you may have gum disease if you see bleeding gums when you brush or floss, bad breath and/or sensitive teeth and gums to hot or cold temperatures. If your gum recession is due to periodontal disease, you may need to be treated with a deep scaling and root therapy.
Tooth Brushing: Too much of a good thing can also be a bad thing. If you are seeing the bristles at the end of your tooth brush parting like your hair down the middle, it’s a sign you are brushing too hard. Hard bristle brushes should only be used to clean the grime stuck on your porcelain dishes. Not on the porcelain of your teeth, for that just use a soft bristle toothbrush. Use proper technique, which can be shown by your hygienist, and avoid damaging your gums.
Misaligned Bite: If your teeth come together unevenly, you may have a misaligned bite. If this is true for you, you will experience excessive wear and tear on both your teeth and gums. Left uncorrected for long enough and the traumatic biting will cause the gums to recede and bone loss to occur. At worse you may lose a tooth because of this traumatic bite.