Can You Actually Stop Gum Recession?

Receding gums are a common part of our natural aging cycle, but that doesn’t mean they’re something to ignore. Unlike gray hair and wrinkles, gum recession can cause serious oral health problems.

When your gums are “receding,” the gum tissue is pulling away from your teeth. Gums are part of our mouths for a reason — they help keep the sensitive roots and nerves protected. Without gum tissue, your teeth are more at risk of cavities and decay.

Left untreated, it leads to tooth loss.

So, when your dentist tells you that you have gum disease, it’s time to take it seriously. Depending on the status of your gum recession, you may be able to reverse it (gingivitis) or slow it down if it’s chronic (periodontitis).

In this blog, we’ll explain gum recession and how you can minimize its effects on your oral health.

What Causes Gums to Start Receding?

Gum recession is a type of gum disease that affects people at any age — yes, even children, although it’s most common in adults over 65.

It can be mild and reversible, like gingivitis (which is the type usually found in kids), or permanent, like periodontitis. In both diseases, the gums pull away from the teeth. 

When you have gum disease, you’ll notice symptoms like sensitive gums and teeth when brushing or eating. You may not be able to enjoy the hot or cold temperature foods you used to love. The pain can be localized to one tooth, or affect multiple areas.

Risk Factors of Gum Disease

This oral health problem is so prevalent that 42% of adults age 30 and over will develop periodontitis. Maintaining proper dental hygiene and making regular trips to the dentist minimize your risk.

Certain lifestyle and health factors can increase your chances of developing gingivitis or periodontitis, though.

If any of the following habits or conditions sound familiar, you could already have the beginning or advanced stages of gum disease:

• You smoke or use chewing tobacco.

• You smoke marijuana frequently.

• You’ve had braces or similar orthodontic care in the past.

• You have piercings on your lip or tongue.

• You have poor oral health hygiene (a routine that doesn’t always include brushing twice daily and flossing).

• You’re an aggressive toothbrusher.

• You currently are or have been a teeth grinder.

• Chewing on hard objects or gum or eating hard foods is a habit you engage in regularly.

• Gum disease runs in your family.

• You have a history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease, both of which can affect gum health.

These factors aren’t the only warnings that you may develop gum disease, but they are some of the most common. The best way to watch for problems is to get familiar with your normal teeth and gums and keep a close eye on them to look for changes that show the progression of gum disease.

What Are the Stages of Gum Disease?

Although gum disease is defined by a loss of gum tissue over and around the teeth, this doesn’t happen all at once.

Instead, it progresses through four stages, each with a separate set of symptoms. When you know what to watch for, you can catch the disease early enough to treat it before it causes serious side effects.

Let’s start with recognizing what healthy gums look like. When your gums are untouched by periodontal disease, they’re an intense pink color, don’t bleed or swell, and stay firm when you touch them. They may occasionally get swollen and irritated if food particles or debris are lodged between your teeth, but they’ll quickly return to normal when you remove the intruder.

Gum disease, on the other hand, happens in the following four stages:

Gingivitis

Gingivitis appears as red and puffy gums that feel sensitive and may bleed with brushing and flossing. At this early stage, there’s no bone loss. Increased dental hygiene and extra care to avoid hard foods, chewing gum, and aggressive brushing can bring your gums back to normal.

Mild Periodontitis

At this point, bacteria have made their way underneath the gum tissue. These unwanted invaders attack the bone that supports your teeth and gums, causing the gum tissue to pull away from the teeth.

This leaves behind pockets that are perfect for plaque and bacteria, keeping them safe from your toothbrush and floss. To reach them, you’ll need a little extra help from your dentist and their specialized scaling and root planing tools. The dentist may prescribe antibiotics or toothpaste and mouthwash designed to kill bacteria.

Moderate Periodontitis

When the bacteria that have intruded into your gums during stage two are left untreated or haven’t been eliminated, they affect the body parts that keep your teeth secured to the jaw.

Your ligaments, tissues, and bones are eroded, leading to side effects like:

• Bad breath

• Gum line infections

• Loose teeth

This stage can be painful, requiring more intensive scaling and root planing, pocket reduction surgery, and ongoing periodontal maintenance.

Advanced Periodontitis

At the final, most advanced stage, gum disease leads to continued bone loss, which loosens your teeth to the point that they will likely fall out. Between tooth loss and infection, this step can be dangerous.

Studies show that people who have periodontitis have an increased risk of heart disease, dementia, stroke, and other chronic and deadly health conditions.

Is Gum Recession Curable?

If you’re one of the many who like to stay on top of their health, you’ll notice the early signs of gum recession quickly.

At the first stage, gingivitis can be completely reversed! But once it reaches the periodontal stage where it has impacted the bone, it is no longer curable. However, with treatment, you can slow down its progression.

Treatments for mild gum recession start with increased dental hygiene care at home and a professional cleaning from the hygienist at your dentist’s office.

If that doesn’t stop the problem from advancing, more intensive procedures include:

• Scaling and root planing, where the hygienist or dentist uses specialized tools to get under the gums and remove bacteria and plaque buildup (usually followed up with an antimicrobial rinse to use at home)

• Antibiotics to eliminate excess bacteria under the gums

• Gum reshapement procedures, which are typically cosmetic but may be recommended for oral health concerns

• Gum surgery, including grafting, pocket reduction surgery, or bone regeneration, depending on the severity of the disease

Getting to this advanced stage of treatment is avoidable, though. By paying attention to your gum health, you can slow down gum recession or stop it in its tracks entirely.

How to Stop (or Slow Down) Gum Recession Early

If you can’t prevent gum disease, the optimal choice is to reverse it while it’s still gingivitis.

Follow Proper Dental Hygiene

Brush at least twice a day using fluoride toothpaste and floss daily to eliminate the plaque and debris hiding between your teeth. Be sure to use an electric or soft-bristled toothbrush. If you haven’t had a cleaning in a while, this is an ideal time to schedule one with your dentist.

Watch Your Blood Sugar Level

Blood sugar levels play a significant role in your gum health. When your blood sugar levels are high, the bacteria in your mouth thrive on the excess sugar. If you have diabetes, let your healthcare provider know that you are dealing with gum recession so they can adjust your treatment accordingly.

Beware of Bruxism

Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, causes tooth surfaces to erode and can damage the gums. This speeds up gum disease progression. Wearing a custom-made night guard (like those we provide at JS Dental Lab) can help you keep your gum disease under control.

Monitor For Hormonal Changes

If your gum disease is caused by hormonal changes — such as pregnancy, perimenopause, or menopause — a night guard can also prevent excess damage to your teeth and gums. Hormone-related teeth shifting and bruxism are common; a custom-fit night guard protects the teeth from excessive grinding or movement.

Quit Smoking

Keep in mind that tobacco use lowers your immune system strength and exposes your mouth to more bacteria, which can impact your body’s ability to fight gingivitis. While still trying to quit, consider brushing more frequently and using mouth rinses.

When to Talk to Your Doctor About Gum Recession

If you’ve just started to notice little signs like bleeding gums when you floss or brush or sensitivity to hot and cold foods, you may be able to handle the issue yourself.

Slowing down periodontal disease beyond gingivitis isn’t as easy, though. Progressive stages of gum disease have begun to wear away at the bone and ligaments holding your teeth in place. However, these more advanced stages can be halted enough to keep your teeth and bones safe from total loss. 

Follow the above recommendations for gingivitis and mild gum disease. Then, visit your dentist to see exactly how far your periodontitis has progressed. 

Warning signs that it’s definitely time to talk to your dentist or doctor about your concerns include:

• Teeth appearing longer than they used to

• Ongoing tooth sensitivity

• Discomfort or pain occurring at the gum line

• Noticing gaps between teeth

• Seeing a notch at the gum line (called an abfraction)

The more advanced your gum disease becomes, the more intense the treatment you’ll need to stop it from progressing quickly.

If you’ve passed the stage where scaling and root planing, antibiotics, and increased at-home care can help, your dentist might recommend you see a periodontist. This specialist monitors your disease and performs more intensive treatment, such as gum grafting and surgical procedures.

In a nutshell, stopping your gum disease from progressing depends on how advanced it is. Knowing the causes of gum recession and the signs to watch for can help you reverse early gingivitis or recognize when to head to the doctor for extra assistance. This can save your oral health and avoid painful exposed roots or tooth loss. 

Something as simple as a deep cleaning of the affected area now can keep you from needing tissue grafting or bone grafting procedures later. 

Conclusion

Ready to give your body a little extra help fighting bacteria and minimizing gum recession while you sleep?

Consider investing in a night guard to prevent further damage to your teeth and gums.

Visit JS Dental Lab to find out how a night guard may be the first line of defense against progressive gum disease today.