(Image credit: Dear Doctor Inc.)
By Dr. Bikram Dhillon
Receding gums are a condition wherein your gums begin to recede/uncover your teeth, sometimes as a result of loss of gum tissue. This condition usually is a result of long term poor oral hygiene, although people suffering from immunodeficiency diseases or diabetes are more susceptible to periodontal diseases and gum recession. This can result in tooth mobility, caries below the gum line and eventually tooth loss.
If you have been diagnosed with gum recession, you need to seek adequate dental treatment to address the underlying cause and reduce the risk of losing teeth and other problems that can be caused due to gingival recession.
Cause of Gums Recession
Receding gums often are a progression of inflammatory condition of gum tissue referred to as gingivitis. Many of us can have gingivitis at some point in our life, which is eliminated by improvement of our oral hygiene habits. But if left alone, gingivitis can progress leading to gums recession. Interestingly, it is not only gingivitis, but brushing too aggressively using a hard bristle tooth brush can also lead to gums recession.
Other factors contributing to receding gums include:
- Long-term neglect of brushing
- Long-term aggressive brushing
- Tartar (hardened plaque) buildup
- Hormonal changes (in women)
- AIDS
- Other autoimmune diseases
- Diabetes mellitus
- Fragile gum tissue caused by hereditary factors
- Long term use of medications causing xerostomia (dry mouth)
- Vitamin C deficiency
- Long-term use of tobacco
- Tooth crowding
- Bruxism
If you have receding gums then you are not alone. Cross-sectional epidemiological studies have shown that more than 50% of the population have at-least one site in the oral cavity where the gums recession is 1 mm or more, many of which may have good or poor oral hygiene, indicating that gums recession can be caused due to variety of factors. In people over 65 years of age, about 88% have gums recession.
One of the following signs and symptoms associated with gums recession can help you diagnose the condition:
- Loosened teeth
- Visible lengthening of teeth
- Exposed roots of teeth
- Wider spaces between teeth
- Tooth sensitivity or pain
- Changes in tooth color, due to exposed cementumGum inflammation
Receding Gums: Degrees of Severity
The Millers classification is used to classify the severity of receding gums
Class I: Marginal tissue recession not extending beyond mucogingival recession: the junction where soft tissues of floor of mouth and cheeks meet the firm keratinized tissue around palate and teeth.
Class II: Marginal tissue recession extends beyond mucogingival junction. However there is no attachment loss to bone or soft tissue.
Class III: Involves periodontal (gum) attachment loss or malpositioning of teeth.
Class IV: Severe loss of bone and soft tissue in the interdental area (between teeth), with or without severe teeth malpositioning.
Seeking Treatment for Receding Gums
Unfortunately, gums recession in most cases cannot be reversed. So key is to prevent it from happening by treating pre-existing conditions that cause it. Regular visits to your dentist can help identify it in earlier stages before its advanced, thereby allowing treatment by following options.
Scaling and polishing. Can be performed by a periodontist or a dentist. Scaling allows for removal of tartar from tooth surface and even below gumline. Root planning involves smoothening of rough areas of root where pathogenic bacteria accumulate.
Mouthrinse prescription: Most antibacterial mouthrinses contain chlorhexidine, an antimicrobial agent.
Antibiotic gel to be applied to gum pockets
Enzyme suppressants. Are oral medications that suppress enzyme action breaking down gum tissue
Flap surgery. To remove tartar and to reduce the depth of periodontal pockets
Gum grafts. Done by a periodontist- wherein a gum tissue is taken from elsewhere in the oral cavity and grafted at the site of gum recession. After healing the exposed tooth surface is covered with gum tissue thereby reducing the chance of decay and tooth sensitivity.
Caring for Your Gums After Treatment
If you have undergone gum grafting procedure, it is likely that the gums will be sore for some time after that. Post operative care involves avoiding alcohol consumption and smoking to allow for adequate healing. It also is a good time to address problems like jaw clenching, dietary issues, tooth grinding (bruxism) or poor oral hygiene that contribute to gum disease.
Though receding gums are treatable with surgery to some extent, but “prevention is better than cure”. So it is always better to diagnose such a condition at an earlier stage before it worsens to an advanced stage. To seek treatment for the disease in its intial form, not allowing it to progress further. This is part of the reason why biannual dental checkups are a must at any age.
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Dr Bikramjit Singh Dhillon, Dental Specialist
drdhillonbikram@gmail.com
Phone No. : +91-88009-978001
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