Why You Should Take Gum Recession Seriously

If you have noticed your gums have begun to look slightly different recently, or perhaps that your teeth seem longer than you remember then it could be worth booking an appointment to see your dentist in Watton. It’s possible you could have receding gums and this is an issue that deserves to be taken seriously.

What Is Gum Recession?

Gum recession is where the gum tissue begins to pull away from your teeth. Normal healthy gums will fit snugly around the margins of your teeth, preventing anything from getting stuck in between your gums and your teeth. If this gum tissue begins to pull away, it can expose more of your tooth and eventually the tooth roots. As the gums become looser and more ill-fitting, this can create pockets in between the gum margin and your teeth. These gum pockets are the ideal breeding ground for disease-causing bacteria to build up. By this stage you are likely to have gum disease which is a bacterial infection. Without treatment these bacteria can destroy your gum tissue as well as other structures supporting your teeth which include bone and ligaments. Eventually this can result in tooth loss.

One of the main problems with gum recession is that it can occur quite gradually. One of the first signs of gum recession is noticing that your teeth perhaps look longer than you remember or that they have become more sensitive as the tooth roots are exposed. Sometimes you’ll see a notch at the base of the tooth, close to where it meets the gum line. If you visit a dentist in Watton quite regularly, then these symptoms can be detected at an earlier stage as there are various treatments that can help treat early gum disease.

Treating Gum Disease

One of the most straightforward ways to treat gum disease is through deep cleaning your gums, a process called scaling and root planing. This helps clean out the gum pockets, removing much of the bacterial infection. The idea is for the gum tissue to return to health so it fits more snugly around your teeth. During this treatment your dentist in Watton will scale your teeth to remove hardened plaque bacteria in the form of tartar. They will also scale any exposed tooth root surfaces. Afterwards these surfaces are smoothed or planed and this is a process that makes it much harder for bacteria to adhere. If necessary, topical antibiotics can be placed into particularly deep gum pockets to help kill off more bacteria.

Are There Any Other Reasons Why Gums Recede?

Although gum disease is the most likely cause of gum recession, gums can recede due to other factors. For example if you brush your teeth too hard or use a toothbrush with very hard bristles then this can wear away your gums. People who clench or grind their teeth are more at risk of gum recession as this habit places considerable pressure on the gums. Having a misaligned bite or very crooked teeth can also place pressure on the gums, again increasing the risk of gum recession.

If you think your gums are receding or you’re simply overdue for a check-up, why not call Clarence House Dental Care to book an appointment today? You can contact us on 01953 882777.