Gum Recession

Are your gums receding?

Gum recession is the event of the gum tissue pulling back from the tooth, making the tooth look longer. When the gum recedes it may create gaps between the teeth and will attract bacterial, which eventually encourages gum disease and root decay. If there is enough recession the teeth may fall out. Yikes!

It may be happening to you, but fortunately you are not alone. Receding gums happens to a lot of people and you should have it checked out as soon as you think it is occurring.

Is this happening to you?

You can find out if your gums are receding by doing a couple of things: one of them is comparing the length of your teeth compared to the others. Another way you can tell if your gums are receding is if it is slightly more sensitive in a particular part of your gums. The gums receding will show a yellow part of the tooth. This is called the dentin layer which is the tooth under the hard enamel.

Why do gums recede?

There are a few reasons why your gums will recede. One of them is will be due to poor oral hygiene which leads to periodontal disease. Smoking, hormonal changes are other reasons for receding gums. Aggressive tooth brushing, poor or uneven bite, or just general aging could be part of the reason gums are receding.

What you should do?

Whenever you feel that your gums are receding, you should see your dental professional or periodontist. If you feel that your gum recession is severe, seek out your dental professional immediately. Our Hamilton Dentist will help you adjust your dental care routine to mitigate the recession as well as suggest any necessary actions to take care of your gums.

Although our Hamilton dental team can help you with receding gums, nothing beats a proper daily oral hygiene routine which includes proper flossing and gentle brushing of the gums to help prevent your gums from receding.

Think your gums may be in trouble? Talk to us today! We’ll help you get those gums on the right track back to better health.