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- There Must be Something I Can do to Stop My Gums From Receding
There Must be Something I Can do to Stop My Gums From Receding
- By Dr. Pamela Dassenko, DDS
- Published 09/21/2009
- Wellness, Fitness and Diet
- Unrated
Dr. Pamela Dassenko, DDS
Dr. Pam Dassenko has been practicing Dentistry for over 25 years. She is a 1980 graduate of Loma Linda University where she has also taught restorative dentistry and prosthodontics. Her caring and expertise are translated into beautiful and quality dental care from cosmetic to advanced modern dental procedures. http://www.drdassenko.com
View all articles by Dr. Pamela Dassenko, DDS
Receding gums make the teeth look long and rather unattractive, and they also threaten the health of the tooth because the gums are meant to protect and nurture the teeth in a healthy manner. If they are shrinking away from the tooth then it is like dirt being removed from the base of a plant – the roots get exposed and that can threaten the whole organism.
The best way to stop any kind of health issue or dental problem is, of course, to arrest it before it begins to happen. That means preventative oral health or preventive medicine. Brushing and flossing and eating a good diet is part of that prevention, as are regularly scheduled visits to your dentist so that he or she can clean them, inspect them, and perform any needed procedures like filling teeth.
During these visits, the dentist will use special instruments to probe all around the teeth and gum line. By doing so the dentist can monitor and measure any changes – such as how much, if any, the gums are pulling away or receding from the base of the tooth. Just as hair often recedes on the heads of men who are growing older, gums can also recede over time and leave the base of the tooth essentially bald and vulnerable. But dentists who watch your gums and teeth can spot any disturbing developments and deal with them before they get out of hand. That might just mean giving you a good oral cleaning and c
heck-up, or it might mean showing you how to do a better job of brushing and flossing. Your dentist might even ask you to change from being a smoker to becoming a non-smoker, or encourage you to give up candy or other harmful foods.
If the receding of the gums has become severe – so that there are noticeable gaps between the gums and tooth or the base of the tooth is getting longer looking – then the dentist may have to perform an emergency periodontal surgery to replenish the gum tissue. This sometimes is accomplished by grafting or adding more tissue to the existing gum. Once it takes hold it protects the tooth, and with good follow-up therapy the gums can regain their lost vibrancy and start growing back into place as normal.
Some shrinking of the gums may be natural, so it is not necessary to become alarmed if you start to notice that the gums are shifting their position in relation to your teeth. But don’t try to diagnose the situation on your own, and don’t make the mistake of ignoring it or avoiding dentist visits. Your dentist should keep an eye on your gums throughout your entire lifetime, and then he or she can help to ensure that the issue of recessive or receding gums is not anything you have to be concerned with or troubled by. With the help of a qualified and reliable dentist you can just eat a nice diet, drink plenty of water and get regular exercise, brush and floss each day, and enjoy a healthy smile and good gums that contribute to good teeth.
The best way to stop any kind of health issue or dental problem is, of course, to arrest it before it begins to happen. That means preventative oral health or preventive medicine. Brushing and flossing and eating a good diet is part of that prevention, as are regularly scheduled visits to your dentist so that he or she can clean them, inspect them, and perform any needed procedures like filling teeth.
During these visits, the dentist will use special instruments to probe all around the teeth and gum line. By doing so the dentist can monitor and measure any changes – such as how much, if any, the gums are pulling away or receding from the base of the tooth. Just as hair often recedes on the heads of men who are growing older, gums can also recede over time and leave the base of the tooth essentially bald and vulnerable. But dentists who watch your gums and teeth can spot any disturbing developments and deal with them before they get out of hand. That might just mean giving you a good oral cleaning and c
If the receding of the gums has become severe – so that there are noticeable gaps between the gums and tooth or the base of the tooth is getting longer looking – then the dentist may have to perform an emergency periodontal surgery to replenish the gum tissue. This sometimes is accomplished by grafting or adding more tissue to the existing gum. Once it takes hold it protects the tooth, and with good follow-up therapy the gums can regain their lost vibrancy and start growing back into place as normal.
Some shrinking of the gums may be natural, so it is not necessary to become alarmed if you start to notice that the gums are shifting their position in relation to your teeth. But don’t try to diagnose the situation on your own, and don’t make the mistake of ignoring it or avoiding dentist visits. Your dentist should keep an eye on your gums throughout your entire lifetime, and then he or she can help to ensure that the issue of recessive or receding gums is not anything you have to be concerned with or troubled by. With the help of a qualified and reliable dentist you can just eat a nice diet, drink plenty of water and get regular exercise, brush and floss each day, and enjoy a healthy smile and good gums that contribute to good teeth.