As a dental practitioner battling receding gums myself, I’ve discovered several techniques to manage and even partially reverse gum recession. Whether you’re already dealing with a receding gum line or want to protect your smile, these practical prevention and treatment tips can help.
My Personal Gum Recession Journey
Despite being a dental professional, I developed gingival recession in my 40s likely due to a combination of factors – largely genetic predisposition. The slowly exposing tooth roots didn’t just impact my appearance but also led to annoying tooth sensitivity.
Through attempting various therapies both professionally and personally, I pieced together an effective oral care plan to stabilize areas of receding gums. Catching gum loss early and addressing causes gives you the best chance of avoiding advanced recession.
1. Improve Your Brushing Habits
Switching to an extra soft bristle toothbrush and using less pressure protects delicate gum tissue. I advise using a gentle circular rubbing motion. Electric options like the Philips Sonicare G3 also automatically monitor pressure.
Adjusting your brushing technique shields your gum line from erosion. Don’t let poor habits accelerate recession.
2. Incorporate Daily Flossing
While brushing cleans surface plaque, you need to floss to clear bacteria festering below your gum line. Allowing it to remain triggers chronic inflammation, eventual attachment loss, and receding gums.
I prefer unwaxed tape floss for optimal plaque removal below the gum line. Water flossers also do an excellent job blasting out bacteria.
Make flossing daily non-negotiable to disrupt disease-causing germs waiting to detach your gums.
3. UseSpecialized Toothpaste
Along with behavior adjustments, I advise patients with receding gums or gum disease use toothpaste containing stannous fluoride. Research demonstrates its antimicrobial properties reduce gum bleeding and support tissue reattachment.
My top picks are Crest Gum Detoxify and Crest Gum Restore. These products actively treat gum issues while refreshing breath.
Counteract recession-causing bacteria at the source with advanced fluoride formulas like Crest’s gum therapy pastes.
4. Swish Antimicrobial Rinses
Incorporate an antibacterial mouthwash for receding gums into your daily regimen. Solutions like Listerine Gum Therapy or Crest Pro-Health balance disease causing microbes to reinforce gum attachment and tooth surfaces.
I often prescribe prescription antimicrobial rinses after deep cleanings but over-the-counter formulas with essential oils work too. These special rinses fight inflammation and bacteria.
5. Try Periodontal Procedures
If conservative measures haven’t halted tissue loss, we offer various grafting procedures to regenerate gum coverage around exposed roots. Pinhole techniques allow us to borrow tissue from the roof of your mouth via tiny incisions with quicker healing compared to traditional methods.
These gum grafts utilize your tissue to aesthetically cover roots and protect support structures. Be aware costs often exceed $1,000 per tooth but promote long-term dental wellness.
My Daily Regimen to Maintain Healthy Gums
Since adapting these habits after my receding gums diagnosis years ago, I’m pleased to share my gum line remains stable without additional exposure or sensitivity:
- I brush twice daily using the Philips Sonicare G3 on low-pressure mode
- I floss under the gum line with Gentle Gum Care tape
- I brush with Crest Gum Detoxify toothpaste
- I swish Crest Pro-Health rinse for 60 seconds morning and night
- I swapped smoking for yoga years ago
By pairing clinical therapy with daily prevention, you too can expect to preserve your natural gum contour plus functional dental health.
Who’s Most Vulnerable to Receding Gums?
While minor recession progresses slowly in most adults over time, the following factors accelerate exposure:
- Genetic thin tissue or gum disease history
- Aggressive brushing that erodes the gum line
- Poorly contoured teeth that harbor more plaque
- Smoking and tobacco use due to chemical irritation
- Grinding or orthodontic movement stressing gum attachments
- Medications drying oral tissues like antihistamines
Discuss your risk profile and habits with me or your general dentist to determine if you would benefit from proactive gum protective measures. Receding gums don’t have to worsen if caught early.
Protect Your Smile Through Prudent Prevention
Safeguarding healthy gums and avoiding progressively loosening teeth involves consistent home care and clinical therapy when necessary. I encourage anyone noticing initial gum line changes to adopt soft tissue supportive habits. Combining the latest medicinal kinds of toothpaste, electric brushing adjustments, antimicrobial rinsing, and minimally invasive procedures can together sustain your natural gum contour and oral function if implemented early on during initial signs of recession.
Contact my office if you have any concerns about your gum line or inflammatory symptoms like pain or bleeding. Through multi-pronged treatment, most cases of expanding gum recession can be halted and managed for confidence in your smile again.
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Dr. Tom Bell has a PhD in Medical Anthropology. He has a keen interest in oral health topics and is the founder of dentalrave. He has been an oral health researcher and electric toothbrush enthusiast for over 10 years. Tom works with Awin and others in his research. When not talking about dental hygiene and gadgets, Tom likes spending time outdoors hiking.