Gum Recession: What Is It, and How Can You Prevent It?

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What is Gum Recession and How Can You Prevent It?

Do you notice red swollen gums and ‘longer’ teeth while brushing your teeth? You might be experiencing receding gums. Receding gums, also known as gingival recession, is a condition where the gums pull back from the teeth, exposing more of the tooth and its root. Once this happens, the receded gums cannot grow back. Let’s go deeper into what causes gums to recede, what are some signs to look out for, and how you can prevent it from getting worse.

What Causes Receding Gums?

One of the most common causes of receding gum is poor brushing habits. Brushing too hard or brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush could potentially damage your healthy gums and cause them to recede.

Harmful habits such as smoking or usage of other tobacco products could cause receding gums as well.

Pre-existing gum diseases could play a major role in receding gums. Conditions such as gingivitis or periodontitis – both gum infections of various severities - can cause your gums to recede in the long term.

There are other factors outside of oral care habits that could also lead to gum recession, such as having a misaligned bite or crooked teeth. In fact, studies have shown that some people are genetically susceptible to periodontal diseases or having thin gum tissues, making the problem almost impossible to prevent.

Symptoms to look out for

You can often observe receding gums just by looking at your teeth in the mirror, where some of them will appear longer. That’s a telling sign of gum recession. With the roots of these teeth exposed, you may experience more sensitivities against cold, hot, or even sweet food. You may also have some loose teeth, and your bite patterns may change. Bad breath – while being indicative of various oral health issues – can also be a sign of gum recession if it happens in tandem with other symptoms.

How to Treat Receding Gums

While gums do not grow back, you can still treat them to improve your gum health. You could consult your dentist as soon as possible for treatments. Common gum recession treatments include deep cleaning using scaling and root planing, gum graft, and antibiotics. In more severe cases, surgery might be needed.

Preventing Receding Gums

1. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush

Using hard-bristled toothbrushes with poor brushing habits could lead to gum recession. That’s why it’s always a good idea to invest in a soft-bristled brush instead. For soft-bristled toothbrushes that are gentle on gums, consider the High Density Charcoal Gum Care Toothbrush. The slim-tip bristle will reach every surface of your teeth and even in between the gaps of your teeth with ease to clean thoroughly. With its >350% denser charcoal bristles, more foam can be generated during brushing which helps to clean your oral cavity better!

2. Always use a fluoride toothpaste

Using fluoride toothpaste is your first step to preventing any gum disease. Darlie’s Expert Gum Care Toothpaste is clinically proven to control plaque build-up and improve overall gum health for expert-level gum protection!

3. Use a mouthwash

A mouthwash can remove the remaining bacteria in your mouth after brushing and flossing, making it a must-have if you want to protect your teeth against gum diseases. For this, we recommend the Darlie Salt Gumcare Mouthwash . On top of the CPC and fluoride formulation that helps to effectively kill 99.9% of bacteria and protects against cavities, the mouthwash is also gentle on the gums.