Gum disease and recession can be very serious, and it can take a toll on your teeth. Here’s what to expect if you suffer from gum damage.
What Is Gum Recession?
Gum recession is pretty much what it sounds like–the gums recede, exposing more of the teeth. This happens as the gum tissue around the teeth wears away. As it does, gaps form between the teeth and the gum line. Gum recession can have a variety of different causes. Gum disease and/or poor oral care is often to blame, although it may also be the fault of hormonal changes or genetics.
What Does Gum Recession Mean for My Oral Health?
If gum recession is left untreated, it can spell problems for your teeth. Those pockets we mentioned? As they develop, they become a likely home for bacteria. Over time, that bacteria will contribute to further damage to the gum tissue, damage to the bone, and even tooth loss.
Repairing the Gums
The ideal solution to gum recession is to avoid it altogether by taking great care of your teeth, brushing correctly, and visiting your dentist regularly. But if it’s too late for that, here’s what you can expect. Depending on the severity of the recession, it may be treated differently. If it’s mild, a deep cleaning at the dentist may be enough to address the recession. More serious cases, however, may require surgery. The dentist may recommend open flap scaling and root planing, or gum regeneration, to address the issue.
Addressing Gum Recession at River Vista Family Dental
As a patient of ours, you’ve got the upper hand when it comes to gum disease and recession. When you attend your biannual cleaning and exam at our office, we’ll keep an eye on your gum health and spot any issues, and let you know how you can care for your teeth in a way that keeps the gums healthy, and allows you to avoid any need for surgery.