Treating receding gums depends on your stage and what can be done to treat your underlying gum problem. Aesthetic-wise, cosmetic dentistry will be your best option.
Healing and reversing receding gums – definitely a possibility
Receding gums are frightening and worrying. Gum disease that has gotten out of control eats away at the gums, revealing more of the tooth than you hoped, giving the appearance of long teeth, and destroying your smile’s aesthetics.
And seeing as gums don’t grow back, and gum disease cannot be reversed, the situation feels even more dire. But there’s hope. Mild cases of gum recession can be improved non-surgically, but advanced forms will require surgery to help.
Gum recession guide
Common patient questions answered:
- Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold.
- Drastic changes to the tooth’s appearance like teeth appear longer.
- Space increases between gums and teeth.
- Bleeding, sore and tender gums.
- Bad breath and loose teeth.
Receding gum lines expose more of the tooth or its root. If the tooth’s appearance looks longer than normal, it’s likely gums have receded, making more of the tooth visible due to the lower gum line, which might initially present itself in particular areas of your smile.
Once the gums begin to recede, gaps form between the gum and the tooth, further encouraging disease-causing bacteria to build up. As a result, the tooth’s structures become damaged, and tooth loss is common.
Whilst there are some home and natural remedies for receding gums, they really only slow down the progression rather than fight the disease that causes it in the first place.
Therefore, natural remedies like herbal extracts and anti-oxidants are only recommended alongside standard gum disease and recession treatments, as well as brushing and flossing more regularly and thoroughly.
If the gums have begun to recede, you’re likely experiencing moderate periodontitis, which is the fourth stage of gum disease, meaning the gums are likely receded and sore.
The teeth are at risk of becoming loose and wobbly. When this happens, losing your teeth is likely and replacing them with amazing procedures like dental implants might be harder as the bone has also likely depleted.
Receding gums are mainly caused by poor oral health, causing conditions like gum disease. If plaque or tartar is left untreated, the gums become inflamed and begin to recede.
Receding gums can also be affected by ageing and brushing too hard.
“I managed to heal receding gums only by rushing to the dentist as soon as I noticed changes to my gums, attending frequent hygiene sessions, managing my gum disease better and taking better care of my teeth at home. It might have been a bit of a hassle to spend more time at the dentist, but it’s worth it knowing I won’t lose my gums for good.” Sadie, Surrey
Treatment options for receding gums
01. Gum graft surgery
Gum graft surgery will cover the exposed teeth roots and add volume to your smile. The gum is pulled over or down to cover the exposed roots and sewn into place – but this is only possible for patients with enough gum left.
02. Gingival veneers
Cosmetically, your best options might be veneers, which can reduce the appearance of receding gums; for example, gingival veneers are specially designed and custom-crafted for this particular scenario as they conceal exposed tooth roots.
03. Gum contouring
A common solution for gum recession, gum contouring is a process that cuts tissue from the roof of your mouth and uses it as a graft to cover the exposed tooth roots. Your existing gum will then hide the graft, providing a more uniform-looking smile.
04. Dental bonding
If the tooth root is exposed, composite bonding can cover this portion of the tooth and improve the appearance of your smile by filling in the gaps and space. Teeth will look longer, but we can reshape these too to make the smile look more natural.
Act fast - treatment only has a short window
If your gums have become so severely damaged that they recede so far back that they expose the tooth’s root, or we find significant bone loss from advanced gum disease, gum grafting techniques might not be enough to restore your gums back to a healthy state.
Gum recession is not a condition you want to ignore and it’s urged that you make a dental appointment straight away to see what can be done to save your smile, whilst many options are still available to you.
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