Gum Recession

Receding gums, also called gingival recession is a medical term which refers to the loss of gum tissue and resulting exposure of the roots of teeth. Gum recession is a very common problem for adults however in some rare cases it can also occur in the teenage years. You can see the signs of gum recession when the gum of a tooth moves down, it can be isolated or affect any number of teeth.

Symptoms

Gum recession doesn't happen overnight and in the vast majority of cases the recession will happen progressively over a period of years. It's highly common in adults over the age 40 and because we get used to the appearance of gums we tend not to notice miminal changes in them. In many cases the recession of gums goes unnoticed until the condition causes other problems or someone else points it out to us. There's a number of common symptoms which may indicate gum recession;

  • Teeth appear longer than normal
  • Roots of teeth are exposed and visible
  • Teeth feel notched at the gum line
  • Change in tooth Colour
  • Increased sensitivity to hot or cold
  • Spaces between teeth seem larger
  • Cavities occuring below the gum line

In some cases gum recession can be caused by gingivitis and may be accompanied by red, swollen or generally inflamed gums, gums that bleed after brushing and halitosis.

Treatment

Treatment for gum recession largely depends on what the cause of the problem was. Gum recession is most commonly caused by overzealous brushing when using a manual toothbrush. It's usually the horizontal or vertical scrubbing action which causes it and it's common to be advised to visit a hygienist to learn gentler brushing techniques. If fragile tissue is the cause then Periodontal plastic surgery may be advised in order to create a thick and tough gum tissue known as 'attached gingiva' which will help protect against further recession. If the recession is occuring due to a bacterial infection then eliminating the offending infection is the primary focus. Similarly if poor plaque control was to blame then it's important to maintain a decent level of oral hygiene. If an incorrect bite (or malocclusion) was a factor in the development of the recession then an adjustment or splint may be recommended. If your recession is caused by tartar then you may need a procedure known as scaling and root planing in order to properly clean the teeth and heal the corresponding inflammation.