Receding Gums: What causes gums to shrink and recede from the teeth?
What does “receding gums” mean?
Gum recession on teeth refers to a dental condition where the gum pulls back from the tooth surface. As a result, the root surface of the teeth gets exposed.
This condition is a form of periodontal disease. Unfortunately, gum recession carries a number of complications for oral and dental health. What’s more, the diversity of causes that trigger gum recession on teeth makes it quite challenging to accurately diagnose and manage this condition.
Here, we will focus on the causes and risk factors of gum recession on teeth. After that, we will touch on the symptoms, diagnostic approach, and available treatment options.
Causes and risk factors of gum recession
The primary factor that contributes to gum recession is poor oral hygiene. However, many patients develop this condition even with good oral hygiene.
According to research, here are the pathophysiological mechanisms that trigger gum recession:
Chronic inflammation of the tissues due to periodontal disease
Physical trauma to the teeth
Surgery within the oral cavity (e.g., periodontal treatments)
Physical wear over several years
For instance, brushing your teeth vigorously for many years or using a toothbrush with hard bristles could lead to physical wear. While you will not see the immediate results of these bad habits, you may develop gum recession many years after. In this case, your oral hygiene could be optimal, but you will still develop periodontal disease.
Nevertheless, plaque builds up on the teeth and leads to:
Gum inflammation – We refer to this condition as gingivitis. If left untreated, this condition can lead to periodontitis.
Periodontitis or Gum Disease– The primary defect of this disease is the formation of a space between the gums and teeth. Patients also lose connective fibers and some bone around the roots of the teeth. Ultimately, bone loss and gum recession follow.
Periodontal disease is an extremely common cause of gum recession. It also precipitates the loss of the supporting tissues and bones around the teeth. Hereditary factors, such as having thinner gum tissue and the position of your teeth, may also play a role in this disease. Individuals prone to inflammatory diseases are also predisposed to periodontitis.
Finally, lip or tongue piercings, damage from dental treatment, and misaligned teeth can all lead to this disease.
Risk factors for gum recession
People over the age of 40 years with otherwise good hygiene routines may suffer from gum recession due to over-brushing and using hard bristles.
A 2017 study identified numerous factors that increase the risk of periodontal disease, including:
Excessive alcohol consumption
Poor oral hygiene
Genetic predisposition
Smoking cigarettes
Diabetes mellitus
Certain chronic infections, such as HIV
Hormonal fluctuations in females
Pharmacological drugs that cause dry mouth
Researchers believe that gum recession may include a genetic component that is worsened by exposure to environmental factors.
Signs and symptoms of receding gums
The symptoms of gum recession on teeth include:
Pain at the gum line
Red and swollen gums
Bad breath
Bleeding after minimal contact (e.g., brushing, flossing)
Shrinking gums
Loose teeth
Exposed tooth roots
Every patient may experience unique symptoms. This is why early detection and management by your hygienist and dentist is key to preventing further gum shrinking and damage to teeth, bone and gums.
Diagnosis of gum recession
Gum recession on teeth is a form of periodontal disease, which requires the expertise of a dentist to diagnose and manage it.
Your dentist will start by asking you a few questions about your health and dental hygiene routine. After that, he/she will conduct a physical examination to identify the issues. During this examination, your dentist may use a probe to measure gum pockets.
On average, normal pocket sizes range between 1 to 3 millimeters. Above this limit is considered a sign of gum disease, gum inflamation, and bone loss.
How to treat gum recession
The treatment of gum recession can rely on medications for mild cases. However, advanced cases may require surgical intervention.
Medications
Once the diagnosis is established, your periodontist will work out a plan to reverse gum recession and save your teeth. First and foremost, prescribing antibiotics in the case of infection is primordial.
Other pharmacological drugs that help with gum recession include:
Antimicrobial mouthwashes
Antiseptic chips
Topical antibiotics (in the form of a gel)
Enzyme suppressants
Surgery
This option is reserved for severe cases of gum recession. The two most common surgical procedures are flap surgery and grafting.
Flap surgery
This is a deep tissue cleaning that gets rid of microbes and tartar buildups.
Grafting
Grafting revolves around revising the gum or the bones. The periodontist will place a synthetic particle to help the gums grow back. Without appropriate oral hygiene, this process will not be successful in the long term.
To learn more about the available techniques and treatments for gum recession, click on this link.
Complications of receding gums
According to the California Dental Association (CDA), almost 70% of adult tooth loss is the result of periodontal diseases (e.g., gum recession). The lack of gum tissue to hold the tooth roots will make them prone to falling out.
In many cases, the dentist is forced to remove several loose teeth that are about to fall out in order to perform certain procedures.