Have you noticed a change in your gums recently? Are more of your teeth showing than you remember? It could be gum recession. Gum recession happens when your gums pull away from your teeth, exposing more of the tooth root. This is a sign of gum disease that can slowly destroy your gum tissue.
Generally, it begins with a buildup of plaque along the gum line. If you don’t remove plaque well enough, the gums become inflamed. This is because the plaque is causing an infection. As a result, the gums can swell, pull back from the teeth, and create pockets for more plaque to accumulate.
Without treatment, you can experience severe damage to the gums and teeth. Gums help stabilize your teeth, so teeth can loosen and fall out without them.
Side Effects of Receding Gums
One of the most visible side effects of receding gums will be a change in your smile. As the gums recede, it will make your teeth look longer. This can make your smile seem uneven or “toothy.”
Once your gums begin to recede, there will be more room for them to gather plaque. This can progress the disease further. The more room there is for plaque, the more plaque will gather. The more plaque there is, the more your gums will recede.
The gums will continue to recede if you don’t get treatment. Unfortunately, this can cause infections and tooth decay. The recession can expose the root of the tooth, which contains the nerves. As a result, bacteria can damage more of the tooth and cause pain.
Advanced cases of gum disease can cause tooth loss. This is because the gums keep the teeth in place. Without them, your teeth become loose and potentially fall out.
Treatment Options
Depending on the severity of your gum recession, your dentist has gum treatment options to offer you.
Scaling & Root Planing
One of the first lines of defense for treating receding gums is a deep clean. Another name for this procedure is scaling and root planing. During this procedure, your dentist will remove the plaque and tartar buildup on the surfaces of your tooth roots and underneath your gum line.
The goal is to remove the plaque that is causing the infection. This is the scaling portion. Then, they will make the surfaces smoother, root planing, to make it more difficult for plaque to stick to the surface.
After this procedure, your dentist will likely prescribe antibiotics to help get rid of the total infection.
Gum Pocket Reduction
Another way that your dentist may perform this procedure is to create small flaps along your gums. This helps them access the plaque that can build up underneath your gums. They may do this procedure with lasers to reduce bleeding and inflammation. Using lasers, you’ll heal faster and lasers remove plaque and other bacteria more effectively.
Tissue Grafts
When gum recession gets severe, your dentist might suggest a gum graft to fix the problem. First, the dentist takes a small piece of healthy gum tissue from the roof of your mouth. They carefully place this healthy tissue over the areas where your gums have pulled away. The dentist then secures the new tissue so it blends in naturally with your existing gums.
This procedure does three important things. It shields your vulnerable roots from decay, makes your teeth less sensitive to hot and cold, and gives you back a more even gumline. Thanks to modern dental techniques, the process is much more comfortable than you might think. Most patients heal completely within just one to two weeks.
Once healed, you’ll have stronger gums that better protect your teeth while making your smile look healthier too. Gum grafts are a routine procedure that can make a difference in protecting your smile for years to come.
Preventing Further Gum Recession
While treatments can help repair receded gums, prevention is always better than cure. Here are key ways to protect your gums:
- Gentle Brushing: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and avoid aggressive scrubbing. Angle your brush at 45 degrees to clean the gumline without irritating it.
- Proper Flossing: Slide floss gently along tooth curves rather than snapping it down, which can damage gums.
- Regular Dental Visits: Professional cleanings remove hardened plaque (tartar) that at-home brushing can’t address.
- Quit Smoking: Tobacco restricts blood flow to gums, slowing healing and accelerating recession.
Signs You Should See a Dentist
Don’t ignore these red flags:
- Teeth appearing longer than usual
- Increased tooth sensitivity (especially to hot/cold)
- Bleeding gums when brushing/flossing
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
Early intervention can stop recession before you need extensive treatment. Visit Dr. Sara Chen at Aesthetic Dentistry Centre of Plano, TX, for gum treatments and restorative dental services.