Receding gums is something I’ve struggled with for years. Not many people know, but if you have had orthodontic work done in the past, it puts you at a much higher risk for gum recession! This is due to the shifting of your teeth during treatment, which causes your gums to thin. I had braces when I was younger, and as I got older I developed an anxiety issue. Spending the last ten years of my life tense, I unintentionally scrubbed a lot of my gum tissue away over time. Since becoming aware of my recession and implementing changes, I’ve put together my top tips to show you how to stop your receding gums from getting worse!
Disclaimer: I used to have a license in dental assisting, but I am not a professional dentist. I speak from my own experiences and those of prior patients via my work in endodontics. If you’re experiencing pain, sensitivity, or gum recession of any kind, its important to visit a dentist for a thorough evaluation. There, they can help you develop a customized treatment plan and tell you what steps you need to take to help gain control over your oral health.
What is Gum Recession & What Causes it?
Gum recession is the process of your gums pulling back from your teeth and exposing more of your tooth’s root. Recession can be caused by a number of things, like aggressive brushing habits, poor oral hygiene, smoking, and even (unfortunately) genetics. In most cases, gum recession is a sign of gum disease, but it doesn’t always indicate that gum disease is present. However, it can leave you more vulnerable to developing it later on.
You’re more likely to develop gum recession if you:
Use chewing tobacco or smoke.
Grind your teeth at night.
Your teeth are misaligned.
Have had braces or orthodontic treatment.
Have lip or tongue piercings.
Brush your teeth aggressively.
Have poor oral hygiene practices.
Have periodontal disease present.
Can You Reverse Receding Gums?
Don’t shoot the messenger, but you cannot reverse gum recession. Once your gum tissue is gone, it’s gone for good. Depending on the severity, a gum-graft or pinhole surgery is the only way to rectify the situation fully. However, there are ways to prevent it from progressing.
How to Stop Receding Gums from Getting Worse
Invest in an Electric Toothbrush
Using a manual toothbrush is quite possibly the worst thing you can do for your gums. We tend to think that in order to get things clean, we need to scrub them. However, when it comes to our teeth and gums, it actually works the opposite way! By using an electric toothbrush, you’re allowing the vibration of the brush to do the work for you, leaving you to simply guide it along. If you can’t find room in your budget for an electric toothbrush, choosing a soft bristled brush is the next best option. Breaking that muscle memory is hard, but if you’re intentional, this is a huge factor that can help stop your receding gums from progressing!
How to Brush Your Teeth Manually with Receiding Gums
The overall goal of brushing your teeth is to clear away plaque without damaging gum tissue. A few minutes of focus and proper technique will help prevent any further damage from being done.
1. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush: Medium or hard-bristled toothbrushes have been shown to cause damage to gum tissue and enamel. A soft-bristle will help graze the area without causing any damage.
2. Brush at an angle: Many people are taught to hold the brush flat against their teeth. This method doesn’t allow to get within the ridges and curves of your teeth. By brushing at an angle, you also skim beneath the gumline, which is very important to pick up spare debris and residue that may linger unnoticed.
3. Brush in a circular motion: By rotating your toothbrush rather than moving it up and down or side-to-side, you are able to cover all surfaces of your teeth.
Other Tips for Caring For Receding Gums
Brush for 2 minutes, twice a day: Practicing proper oral health is important to caring for your teeth and gums.
Use a toothpaste with flouride: Whether you’re for it or against it, flouride helps make your teeth strong. And what helps your teeth stay healthy, as result, keeps your gums healthy.
If you bleed a lot when you floss, that’s a sign that your gums are inflammed. Flossing more can help strengthen your gums, which will help the bleeding to stop with continued oral practice.
Use an Oral Antioxidant
I’ve recommended this before for pregnancy, but using an oral antioxidant to keep inflammation at bay is a total game-changer! The more your gums wear down over time, the more inflamed and prone to bleeding they become. Using an antioxidant can help keep your oral tissue healthy while also ensuring you stay comfortable.
Try a Water Pick
I know there’s a lot of controversy about water picks in the dental office, specifically from patients on the receiving end, but the picks that you can buy for your home differ. At home picks are designed to create a small, simple stream of water that cleanses the interproximals of your teeth. In turn, this helps to release food or debris that may be stuck and would otherwise missed by flossing and brushing.
Get Quarterly Scaling
Not every dental office is committed to prevention-focused treatment, so seeking one out that finds that important is key. Once you establish a good care team, they’ll likely recommend that you get quarterly scaling if they notice you have a periodontal issue present.
What exactly is “scaling”?
Scaling is when a hygienist or dentist removes built up plaque or tartar below the gum line. This is especially beneficial if you have any pockets developing which are usually caused by bacteria being trapped beneath. Giving your gums a deep clean each quarter keeps your oral hygiene in tact and allows your gums the chance to heal. After scaling, the hygienist or dentist will begin root planing, which is where they smooth out your teeth in order to encourage gum reattachment.
Ultimately, intentionality and good hygiene practices go a long way when it comes to oral health. Do you have any suggested methods you practice that benefit how to stop receding gums from getting worse? Let me know in the comments below!
