ALL ABOUT YOUR GUMS
While your teeth are fundamental to how healthy your smile looks, your gums are just as important. This soft tissue is the foundation of your smile and serves the important functions of holding your teeth in place and protecting their sensitive roots. This is why a receding gumline is more than just a cosmetic concern; it is a serious dental condition. In order to keep your gums healthy, you need to know the common causes of gum recession. From there, you can adjust your lifestyle and oral health routine to defend against receding gums. Plus, if you already have receding gums, there are many options for treatments that can help in restoring your gumline. At DentalWorks – Clearwater, our skilled team of dental professionals offers preventive care and multiple treatments for receding gums, each of which is chosen depending on the cause of your gum recession. Read on to learn more about gum recession, the causes, and common treatment options. Local patients who are concerned about the health of their gums should schedule an oral health examination with a dentist in Clearwater, IN.
ALL ABOUT GUM RECESSION
A receding gumline occurs when the soft tissue begins to pull away from the teeth. More and more of the enamel is visible until, eventually, the roots are also exposed. Gum recession typically does not happen in one day; first, you’ll notice symptoms like red, swollen, and tender gums that bleed easily. Pus along your gumline and persistent bad breath (halitosis) are also symptoms that usually precede gum recession. If you notice any of these, we urge you to schedule an appointment with your dentist in Clearwater, IN as soon as possible. If gum recession is left untreated, your teeth might loosen and fall out, because the gum tissue aren’t strong enough to hold them in place.
CAUSES OF GUM RECESSION
Unfortunately, gum recession is not an unusual dental issue, especially for individuals over the age of 40. There are many causes of gum recession, which will help your dentist in determining how to treat yours. Some of the most common are:
METHODS OF TREATMENT FOR RECEDING GUMS
To choose the ideal treatment for your receding gums, your dentist will need to determine the cause. Gum recession caused by periodontal (gum) disease will be treated based on how advanced your condition is. For those who have the first stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, dentists typically recommend multiple scaling and root planing (SRP) treatments. A noninvasive procedure, SRP therapy removes the buildup from your gum pockets and smoothes the enamel to prevent future accumulation. If SRP therapy is not enough to improve your gum health, or if you have the second stage of gum disease (periodontitis), your dentist may perform periodontal surgery, or he or she might refer you to a periodontist or oral surgeon. During this procedure, incisions will be made in your gum tissue to reach deeper into your gum pockets and clean along your tooth roots. SRP therapy and gum surgery are typically followed by a round of antibiotics to clear any persistent bacteria. After SRP therapy and periodontal surgery, your dental practitioner will allow some time for your gums to heal and regrow. If your gumline is still too high, gum graft surgery may be performed. Gum grafts generally use tissue from other areas of your mouth, for example, the roof of your mouth, to add coverage where needed on your gumline. Synthetic and donor grafts may also be used for those who don’t have adequate tissue to create a healthy gumline. After you have recovered from gum grafting, it is important to follow a good home oral hygiene routine and have regular visits with your dentist in Clearwater, IN for annual dental examinations and bi-annual professional cleanings.
HEAL YOUR GUMLINE
Your gums are vital to the health of your teeth, so you need to maintain your gum health have a beautiful smile. Schedule an oral health checkup with a dentist if you are concerned about gum disease or receding gums. At DentalWorks – Clearwater, our experienced team of dental professionals offers diagnoses and treatment for receding gums, including scaling and root planing, gum surgery, and gum grafting. Contact our practice in Clearwater, IN to set up appointments for your family.
