Gums are an essential part of our mouth and equally crucial for oral hygiene. Many overlook them when talking about oral health, but believe us, that’s a costly mistake. Gums protect your pearly whites, underlying tissues, and bones from bacterial attack. If anything happens to them, your teeth and bones are at stake. Unfortunately, gum diseases are a silent killer without any flair, so you might fail to notice them until it’s too late. One such gum problem is gum recession which sets in quietly, and if you don’t catch it in time, be ready to face the music.
What’s Gum Recession?
Gum recession is the term coined for gums pulling back from their original place. This reveals more tooth or tooth roots. Gaps or pockets left behind by the receding gums are the perfect places for bacteria to cling on and irritate the gums further. Eventually, gums recede further until the root is overexposed or bacteria has a chance to reach the bone. Gum recession may lead to bone damage or even tooth loss.
You can be diagnosed with mild, moderate, or severe gum recession. Due to extreme gum recession, the consequences can be ghastly, and the treatment will be costly. Hence, it’s better to pick gum loss symptoms early so you can interfere and keep your head over the water. Here are a few signs you need to be on the lookout for:
- Swollen or tender gums, even pain near your gumline.
- Sensitivity to anything hot or cold.
- Sensitivity while brushing.
- Sensitivity during dental cleaning.
What Are The Causes Of The Gum Recession?
Several factors can cause gum recession; here is a list of common ones:
- Lousy oral hygiene gives the plaque a chance to build up and spread. They irritate the gums, causing them to recede. Plaque fills up the pockets left behind by gums and hardens into tartar. Then the recession continues until you don’t get tarter removed by dentists.
- Extra force on the gums may cause them to retreat. Examples include aggressive brushing, teeth grinding, and misaligned bites due to crooked teeth.
- The use of tobacco products increases the likelihood of gum recession. This is because consuming tobacco produces a sticky plaque that is hard to remove.
- Sometimes nature is against you, and it’s your genes that make you more susceptible to gum diseases.
- Hormonal changes in a woman can make her gums more sensitive, especially during times of hormonal fluctuations such as puberty, pregnancy, or menopause.
- Piercing of lips or tongue may be an unusual reason. The jewelry worn after piercing can rub against the gum, agitating them and leading to gum recession.
Conclusion:
Gum recession is a slow process; you might not have a whiff of it until it’s too late. However, regular dental inspection and checkups can come in handy in helping you diagnose gum recession early in the act. With early diagnosis, you can easily overcome recession through deep dental cleaning without any need for surgery. Hence, book your next appointment with Brenham Family Dental. You can call us at 979-421-9685 to learn more about our services.