Gum Disease

One of the most common causes of gum recession is periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease. Gum disease is actually a bacterial infection that starts when plaque and tartar build up along your gumline, causing inflammation that damages soft tissues supporting your teeth. Left untreated, your gums may eventually pull away from your teeth, creating pockets where bacteria can thrive. Professional periodontal treatment is essential to stop the infection and prevent further gum recession.

Brushing Too Aggressively

While good oral hygiene is important, there IS actually a wrong way to care for your teeth. Brushing too hard or using a toothbrush with hard or stiff bristles can gradually wear away your gum tissue, often leading to recession. Gently brushing in circular motions using a soft-bristled toothbrush removes plaque effectively while protecting your gums from unnecessary damage.

Teeth Grinding and Clenching

Grinding or clenching your teeth places excessive pressure on your gums and supporting structures. Over time, this repeated stress can contribute to gum recession, especially when combined with gum disease. A custom nightguard can help protect your teeth and gums from damage due to nighttime grinding.

Misaligned Teeth

Crooked teeth or an uneven bite can result in excessive force being placed on certain teeth when you chew, eventually contributing to gum recession. Undergoing orthodontic treatment to improve your bite alignment can help reduce uneven stress on your gums.

How Can Receding Gums Be Treated or Prevented?

Treatment for gum recession depends on the cause and severity of the problem. If caught early, treatment may include professional cleanings, improved oral hygiene habits, periodontal therapy, or a custom nightguard. More advanced cases of recession may require gum grafting to replace lost tissue and protect exposed tooth roots.

Protect Your Gums With Regular Dental Checkups

Preventing gum recession begins with good oral hygiene, regular dental checkups, and proper brushing techniques. Addressing problems early can help preserve your gum tissue, keeping your smile bright and healthy for as long as possible.

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You can prevent gum recession, but first, you need to know what causes it in order to prevent it. Think about it—you can’t prevent your house from getting dirty if you don’t know where the dirt is coming from! Here’s how you can prevent gum recession.

Focus on Preventing Gum Disease

Gum recession is commonly a result of gum disease [1]. When bacteria and plaque aren’t properly and consistently removed from around the gumline, they can build up and begin to irritate the gum tissue. This can result in the gum tissue receding from the teeth.

Gum disease can be influenced by many factors, among them crooked teeth and poor oral health. Some people are also more likely to get gum disease based on genetics. If you focus on preventing gum disease with proper oral care, a nutritious diet, and regular dental visits, it’ll go a long way towards preventing gum recession!

Be Careful Not to Brush Too Hard

Brushing your teeth is necessary to protect your pearly whites, but aggressive brushing can damage them. Forceful brushing is not only unnecessary, but can have negative effects on the softer tissues of your mouth, such as your gums [2].

If you brush your teeth with a firm-bristled toothbrush, you may be causing unnecessary irritation to your gum tissue. The quality of your brushing matters more than how forcefully you brush, so be gentle and next time you need a new toothbrush, look for a soft-bristled one to protect your gum tissue!

Get a Checkup to See If You Grind Your Teeth

Teeth grinding can be harmful to your teeth as well as your gums. If you already have gum inflammation or recession, teeth grinding can make your symptoms worse. Grinding or clenching your teeth puts enormous pressure on your teeth, which can also affect gum tissue.

Get a checkup with your dentist to check for signs of teeth grinding that could be affecting your gum tissue as well. Your dentist can also evaluate your risk for gum disease to determine if you’re at risk for gum recession and discuss preventative steps to take with you!

Worried About Gum Recession?

If you’re seeing potential signs of gum recession or are concerned about preventing gum recession, it’s time to visit your dentist. The best way to prevent gum recession, in addition to taking proper care of your teeth, is to ensure you aren’t at risk for gum disease and don’t have any damaging habits such as teeth grinding that could influence your risk for the condition!

Sources:
1. https://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-disease-symptoms.htm
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12875306

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There are many causes of gummy smile, including teeth that didn’t erupt correctly, hyperactive upper lip muscles, and improper jaw development [1]. The lips, facial muscles, teeth, and gum tissue all play a role in gummy smile, although the underlying cause of all these factors is typically genetic.

The treatment for gummy smile will depend on what’s causing it as determined by your dentist. What are some of the treatment options for this condition?

Laser Treatment

Laser treatment can help remove excess gum tissue and reshape the gumline to improve the appearance of your smile. Laster treatment is comfortable and ideal for patients who may have anxiety about visiting the dentist.

Using laser therapy for gummy smile is a great option for patients who don’t want to undergo traditional surgery to fix their smile [2]. By using a laser, recovery time tends to be much faster and the patient experiences less swelling, bleeding, and discomfort.

Your dentist may suggest laser therapy for your gummy smile if the cause is attributed to too much gum tissue covering the teeth as opposed to an additional cause such as jaw or upper lip positioning.

Surgical Options

For many patients with gummy smile, surgical options can help correct the condition as effectively as possible.

Periodontal surgery for gummy smile—also called a gingivectomy—involves removing excess gum tissue and reshaping the gumline. Your dentist may suggest a crown lengthening procedure which will expose more healthy tooth below the gumline, if this is possible.

If your gummy smile is found to be caused by hyperactive upper lip muscles, reconstructive surgery can help. During this procedure, your dentist will correct the upper lip’s position so that it doesn’t expose as much gum tissue when smiling [3].

If your jaw is found to be the cause of your gummy smile, you’ll likely need an oral surgeon to correct the position of your jaw. While this form of treatment will be the most intensive, it can result in significant improvement and will permanently correct your gummy smile.

Additional Treatments to Consider

Your dentist may suggest other forms of treatment for your gummy smile, including:

• Orthodontics.Braces or Invisalign can correct your bite to make gum tissue less visible.
  Orthodontics provide a simple, temporary, and painless treatment option for gummy
  smile if your bite is found to be the issue.
• Veneers.For people who have naturally short teeth or teeth that are worn down from
  bruxism (teeth grinding), dental veneers can make the teeth appear longer and function
  as a permanent form of treatment for gummy smile.
• Botox.Botox injections can help improve the movement of the upper lip without
  surgery; however, this is a temporary treatment that will need to be repeated every few
  months.

Regardless of what the cause of your gummy smile is, there is treatment. By visiting your dentist, you can get a comprehensive exam to determine what’s causing your gummy smile and what treatments are available to you to permanently transform your teeth and gums!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4239760/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4672859/
3. https://www.jdao-journal.org/articles/odfen/pdf/2015/01/odfen2015181p102.pdf

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