General dentist Shreveport

Receding gums are extremely common, with a majority of adults experiencing this issue. Gum recession occurs when the gum tissue pulls away from the tooth, exposing some of the tooth roots.

If your gums are receding, what does this mean? Is it anything to worry about? Is there anything that you can do to fix it?

What are the symptoms of receding gums?

As gum tissue pulls away from a tooth, this exposes parts of the tooth root that weren’t previously exposed. The root of a tooth is less protected by enamel than other parts of the tooth. This is why people often notice an increase in tooth sensitivity due to gum recession. When the gum tissue pulls away, the tooth root is exposed to factors like heat, cold, sugar, and pressure, and it’s more sensitive to these things since it’s not covered by a thick layer of enamel.

Tooth sensitivity can be very uncomfortable, but many people with receding gums also have cosmetic concerns. When just one tooth experiences recession, it may be obvious that it’s different from the teeth next to it. When many or all of the teeth experience a recession, people may feel that their smile is too “toothy.” The balance of the smile is thrown off, and people sometimes lose self-confidence as a result, even sometimes hiding their smiles in public.

In addition to these factors, there’s another reason to be concerned about receding gums. As the gum tissue pulls away from the tooth, a deeper pocket forms between the soft tissue and the tooth itself. Bacteria can grow inside of this pocket, and it’s hard for the body to remove them. The buildup of bacteria leads to inflammation, which can damage the tissues in the area, including gum tissue, teeth, and bone.

What can cause the gums to recede?

There are a few different potential causes of gum recession. These include:

• Gum disease. The most common cause of gum recession is gum disease. This is a bacterial infection of the gum tissue. The bacteria cause inflammation, and the inflammation damages the gum tissue, leading to further gum recession. This can lead to a vicious cycle in which the gums recede further and further every year. The risk of gum disease is greatly increased by a lack of oral hygiene at home and by skipping regular professional cleanings at the dentist.
• Excessively vigorous tooth brushing. While oral hygiene is extremely important and helps to protect against gum disease, brushing the teeth too vigorously can also damage gum tissue and cause it to pull away from the teeth. Using a toothbrush with stiff bristles or pressing too hard while brushing can lead to gum recession. This is why it’s important to choose a soft-bristled toothbrush and not to press the toothbrush into the teeth too hard while brushing.
• Hormonal factors. Women are more likely to develop gum disease around puberty and menopause, as well as during pregnancy.
• Teeth grinding or clenching. Grinding or clenching the teeth puts more pressure on the tooth roots, which in turn can affect the tissues that help the gums adhere to the teeth. This makes gum recession more likely.
• Genetics. Some people are simply predisposed to develop gum disease. Studies show that up to 30% of the population is at an increased risk, and may develop gum disease despite having excellent oral hygiene.

What can be done about receding gums?

Receding gums are extremely common. This is why we use the expression “long in the tooth” to mean that someone’s getting older. Many people will experience gum recession as they age. Fortunately, we have ways to address the problem.

We will first need to figure out what is causing the gum recession. In some cases, this can be addressed. For example, switching to a soft-bristled toothbrush may help in some cases. A night guard to help protect against grinding and clenching may also be helpful.

If gum recession is caused by gum disease, then we will need to treat this in order to address the issue and prevent further damage. For more mild cases, a deep cleaning procedure is known as scaling and root planing is used. Your hygienist will use a variety of tools to remove as much bacterial growth as possible from the roots of the teeth. The exposed root area is also smoothed out, in order to help the gum tissue reattach to the teeth.

When scaling and root planing aren’t enough, there are also some surgical procedures that can be helpful. In some cases, a regenerative material may be used. After folding back the gum tissue and cleaning the area thoroughly, your dentist applies a material that helps to encourage your body to regenerate tissues. The gum tissue is then secured back down. During the healing process, the regenerative material helps to encourage the body to generate new gum tissue.

Another option is a gum graft. For this procedure, tissue is taken from another area. Often, the roof of the mouth is used as the donor site, but it can sometimes be another area of the gum. The tissue is transferred into the area where gum tissue has receded, to cover the exposed tooth roots. There are a few different variations of this procedure; your dentist will talk with you about what technique is recommended in your specific case.

General dentist Shreveport

If you’re experiencing receding gums, then it’s important to visit a dentist as soon as possible. If this is caused by gum disease, bringing it under control will help to protect your teeth and reduce the risk of future tooth loss. We have a variety of ways to address gum recession and protect your smile.

Dr. Adam Cormier and Dr. Jana Cormier would be happy to have you come in for an appointment. They think of their patients as family, and do everything possible to help protect each person’s smile. With decades of experience, they have excellent technical skills to go along with their warm and friendly manner. Please contact our office to schedule your appointment.