Gums Receding – What can be done about receding gums?
Gum tissue protects the tooth root. When the gumline moves away from the visible part of the tooth, exposing the tooth root, we call this gum (gingival) recession. Without gum tissue to protect them, tooth roots become more susceptible to decay and painful sensitivity. Every case of gum recession is slightly different, and therefore many treatments are available. The nature of the problem which caused the recession to begin with needs to be addressed first. If overly aggressive brushing techniques are eroding the gums, a softer toothbrush and a gentler brushing technique should be used. If poor oral hygiene is a problem, prophylaxis (professional dental cleaning) may be recommended to rid the gum pockets of debris and bacteria. In the case of a severe calculus (tartar) build up, scaling and root planing will be performed to heal the gingival inflammation and clean the teeth. Once the cause of the gingival recession has been addressed, surgery of a more cosmetic or restorative nature ma
