If your gums have started to recede, it is probably due to periodontitis. It is a dental disease caused by a buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth. If it reaches the advanced stage, it can cause gum recession, which exposes the roots of the teeth. To reverse the process, you need dental care and improve gum health with some lifestyle changes.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Dental Treatments
Step 1. Assess if you have healthy gums
To take care of your gums, you need to look for signs that problems are developing. Here's what you need to watch out for:
- Uncontrollable bad breath
- Red gums
- Swollen gums
- Pain in the gums
- Gums that bleed
- Pain on chewing
- Movable teeth
- Sensitive teeth
- Receding gums
Step 2. Get regular dental hygiene treatments
Regularly caring for your teeth greatly reduces the likelihood of your gums receding. These treatments eliminate the plaque and tartar that cause periodontitis.
- If you have regular visits, your dentist will likely recognize the signs of gum recession even before you.
- Many health insurers cover the cost of a visit every six months. If you don't have insurance, you will have to pay for the visit out of your own pocket. However, this type of preventative care can save you a lot of money in the long run.
- If you feel your gums are receding, you should see your dentist as soon as possible. Your doctor can assess the condition of your gums, clean your teeth and recommend the treatments you need.
Step 3. Ask for a specific cleansing treatment if your gums recede
This operation, also called tooth scaling and root planing, removes plaque and tartar from under the gums. By creating a smooth surface under the gums, they will return to their original location.
By making the tooth surface smoother, bacteria will have a harder time adhering to it in the future
Step 4. Take antibiotics for gum infections
If you have an infection under your gums that causes them to recede, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics in combination with other treatments. Medication should clear the infection and allow the gums to heal.
Your dentist can prescribe oral or topical antibiotics to apply directly to the infected area
Step 5. Schedule surgery for the gum tissue
If your gums have receded to the point of causing bone loss and deep pockets near your teeth, surgery is needed to repair them. The dentist will take skin grafts from inside the mouth and use them to repair areas where the gums are no longer present.
- Surgery to reconstruct the gum tissue can be performed by a dentist or a periodontist. However, for this procedure it is preferable to consult a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating gum disease.
- After the surgery, your dentist will tell you how to treat your gums. You will usually not need to brush or floss the area until it has healed and you will need to rinse your mouth with a special mouthwash a few times a day.
Step 6. Discuss the possibility of bone regeneration surgery
If your gums have receded enough to leave bone exposed, this can lead to bone loss. In cases like this, you need a regeneration surgery. During the operation, the dentist will apply restorative materials to the area where you have lost bone tissue.
- To regenerate the bone, the dentist may apply a protective mesh to the affected area, which will allow the bone to grow back. It can also insert synthetic or donor bone pieces to promote regeneration.
- Your dentist will do an x-ray of the teeth to assess whether the bone loss is due to the receding gums.
- Your dentist will give you detailed instructions on how to cope with the postoperative period. It will give you guidance on how often to take painkillers and antibiotics, information on how to follow a soft food diet until the area is healed, and how to keep it clean and not disturb it.
Method 2 of 3: Improve Gum Health
Step 1. Brush your teeth more gently
Using excessive force when brushing your teeth can lead to gum recession over time. Gently scrub your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush to give your gums a chance to recover.
Some electric toothbrushes warn you when you push too hard. If you often use too much force when brushing your teeth, such a product can be a great investment
Step 2. Brush your teeth twice a day
If your gums recede, you may not care enough about dental hygiene. If you don't brush your teeth already, start brushing twice a day. This minimizes the accumulation of bacteria and food scraps in the gum area, promoting their regrowth.
- Make sure you use a fluoride toothpaste.
- If you really want to keep your teeth clean, brush them after every meal.
Step 3. Floss once a day
This practice allows you to remove bacteria, food scraps, and plaque from the spaces between your teeth. This way the gums will remain healthy.
Your dentist can also recommend specific brushes and tools for cleaning the spaces between your teeth
Step 4. Put on a mouthguard
If you grind or clench your teeth, the friction can cause your gums to recede. To release tension on your teeth and give your gums time to regenerate, start using a mouthguard.
- Signs that you grind your teeth include pain in your jaw or face, chipped or filed teeth, pain in your teeth, and headache without an explanation.
- Many people use mouthguards at night to avoid involuntary grinding of their teeth.
Step 5. Increase saliva production
If you often have dry mouth, your gums can recede. To produce more saliva, try chewing sugar-free gum regularly or ask your doctor what medications can help you.
Saliva protects your gums from plaque and bacterial deposits, so if you don't produce enough, your gum health can suffer
Method 3 of 3: Lifestyle Changes
Step 1. Stop smoking
Smoking can cause large plaque deposits on the teeth. As a result, this can cause your gums to recede. To eliminate the problem, commit to quitting smoking.
There are many ways to quit. When deciding on your action plan, remember that almost all people who successfully quit follow programs and use products to relieve withdrawal
Step 2. Remove the piercings that are hitting the gums
If you have a tongue or lip piercing, it can rub against your gums. Over time, rubbing can cause the gums to recede. To minimize the problem and give the gums a chance to regenerate, you should remove the piercings.
If you don't want to remove a piercing permanently, at least don't keep it when you have the chance. Sleeping without or taking it off for a few hours a day can reduce wear on the gums
Step 3. Get professional care for your health problems
Some diseases cause gum recession. For example, diabetes if left untreated can increase the percentage of glucose in saliva. This increases the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis.
- Some treatments can also negatively impact gum health. If you get treatment for HIV, AIDS or cancer, your gums can be damaged.
- Ask your doctor what is the best way to control these diseases and the impact of treatments on the gums.
Step 4. Consider other contributing factors
Some elements cause the gums to recede and you cannot prevent or eliminate them. However, you can get to know them and pay special attention to dental hygiene to counter them. Here are some factors that must lead you to take better care of your gums:
- Family history of gum problems
- Old age
- Pregnancy
- Puberty
- Menopause
