Taking care of your gums is essential if you want to enjoy better oral health, which in turn benefits your whole body.
Do you want to learn the best ways to care for your gums and prevent gum problems? This article’s writer worried that his gums were receding and wanted to know if there’s anything he could do about it. Here are his findings of what he discovered and hope you find it helpful.
We all need to learn the best ways to care for our gums and prevent gum problems that can ultimately in some cases lead to loosing teeth!
Gingivitis
The main cause of gingivitis is a build-up of bacterial plaque. It could mean you have an early stage of gum disease known as gingivitis. Other symptoms of it can include dark red, soft, sensitive gums and bad breath. In many cases, you can deal with and prevent gingivitis by committing to a an oral health routine covered below.
It also cannot be emphasised enough the importance to make regular visits to your dentist and dental hygienist.
Periodontitis
When gingivitis is not treated, it can lead to periodontitis. It first starts off with a buildup of bacteria and plaque within the gums and the teeth. This is an inflammation of the tissues that hold in place and support the teeth. Over time, stuck-on plaque damages the gums and causes them to fall back from the teeth. In severe cases, pockets form between the teeth and gums. This creates a breeding ground for even more bacteria and plaque to form. If periodontitis is left untreated it is possible you could loose a tooth. You need to see your dental professional asap if you have any concerns.
Maybe you’ve noticed traces of blood when biting into an apple. You’re not alone. Bleeding gums are very common but you must treat it as a warning sign.
Getting your gum health right gives yourself an incredible foundation for a healthy mouth. A great starting point is to understand the right way to clean your teeth.
The idea that we should brush hard with a hard brush is simply not true. The sulcus – the groove between the teeth and gums – is a breeding ground for the bacteria that form plaque. But it’s very difficult to clean with a hard toothbrush – hard bristles simply can’t adapt to the structured surface of the sulcus.
This can lead to two unfortunate scenarios. A/ The sulcus fills with bacteria B/ It becomes infected.
Many people scrub the area all around the sulcus using lots and lots of pressure. In doing this, it’s possible to achieve a clean, healthy sulcus, but at the same time destroy your gums!
Receding gums
Receding gums occurs when your gums pull back from the tooth surface, exposing the root surfaces of your teeth. Symptoms of receding gums include: loose teeth, bleeding after brushing or flossing, red-swollen gums, bad breath, pain at the gum line, visibly shrinking gums, exposed tooth roots. Treatment can include medications, surgical procedures, and oral hygiene.
It’s just one form of gum (periodontal) disease. This is a serious consequence of poor oral health, which may lead to tooth loss. There are a variety of treatments available, depending on the severity of tissue loss. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better the outcome.
This exposes the “neck” of the tooth that sits between the crown and the root, which can lead to the pain of sensitive teeth. followed by decay, infection, gingivitis, periodontitis and eventually even tooth loss.
You need to see your dentist if you have receding gums. Gums are soft and need to be cleaned gently. Which is why dental professionals recommend gentle, fine filaments and lots of them!
Fortunately, you can avoid further recession by learning to brush the right way.
- Keep your gums healthy and clean… and prevent gum problems
- Deal with existing gum problems
- Make sure any existing damage does not get worse
Revolutionise your gum care with interdental brushes
Using interdental brushes, in conjunction with a high-quality toothbrush, will revolutionise your gum care and help you to deal with or ward off gingivitis and the risk of periodontitis.
Interdental spaces are the tiny spaces between teeth and are the perfect places for plaque to hide and grow, ultimately infecting your gums if not cleaned away.
The California Dental Association estimates that three out of every four adults have some form of periodontal disease. This includes receding gums.
Receding gums may be caused by a number of factors, including:
- aggressive brushing over the long term
- hardened plaque buildup (tartar)
- smoking
- hormonal changes in women
- family history of gum disease
- diabetes
- HIV
Certain medications can cause dry mouth. This increases your risk for receding gums. Dry mouth means your mouth has less saliva than it should. Without adequate saliva, the tissues in your mouth can become vulnerable to bacterial infections and injuries.
According to the California Dental Association, receding gums are most common in adults 40 years of age and older. For this reason, it is often misconceived as a normal sign of aging. Also, more men than women develop receding gums.
Treatment
Medications
A periodontist can determine the best course of treatment to save gum tissues and your teeth. First, if an infection is found in the gums, antibiotics may be prescribed.
Other medications may also be used to treat the underlying problem that is causing gum recession. Options include:
- topical antibiotic gel
- antiseptic chips
- antimicrobial mouthwash
- enzyme suppressants
Surgery
Surgery may be used in the worst cases of receding gums. There are generally two options: flap surgery and grafting.
Flap surgery is a deep tissue cleaning used if other treatments fail. It gets rid of bacteria and tartar buildup within the gums. In order to perform this surgery, a periodontist lifts up the gums and then puts them back in place when the procedure is over. Sometimes the teeth appear even longer after flap surgery because the gums fit more closely around them.
In grafting, the goal is to revive either gum tissues or the bones. During the procedure, the periodontist places either a synthetic particle or a piece of bone or tissue to help the gums grow back. It’s important to note that this process cannot be successful over the long term without proper oral health care.
Complications of receding gums
The California Dental Association estimates that periodontal diseases such as receding gums are responsible for about 70 percent of adult tooth loss. When there is not enough gum tissue to hold tooth roots in place, the teeth are vulnerable to falling out. In some instances, multiple loose teeth are removed by the dentist before they fall out.
Advanced cases of receding gums will likely require surgery to prevent further damage.
Preventing receding gums
Perhaps one of the best tools for preventing receding gums is to see a dentist for regular cleanings and checkups. Even if you don’t experience any symptoms, a dentist can identify early signs of gum disease. You can also help prevent gum problems by practicing smart oral health habits.
While regular flossing and brushing removes bacteria, food particles, and plaque, tartar may only be removed with a dental cleaning. Since tartar can contribute to gum disease and receding gums, this is why biannual cleanings are so vital in preventing these types of complications.
Outlook
The outlook for early stages of gum disease can be good — but only if the problem is treated early. You also don’t have to wait for a dentist to detect signs of receding gums. If something in your mouth doesn’t look or feel right, give your dentist a call right away. You may be able to treat gingivitis before it progresses into receding gums.
Members of the blogging team have had personal experience obtaining interdental brushes from Sydney based Critical Dental who you can view online and buy from the extensive range they have. They deliver across Australia. If you want to learn move on the gentle hydrosonic tooth brush they also recommend and sell, you can view them here: https://criticaldental.com.au/curaprox-hydrosonic-pro/
You can view the the range of interdental brushes they stock here:https://criticaldental.com.au/oral-care/interdental_brushes/
