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Receding gums

definition

Gum recession is a process in which the gums slowly retreat and parts of the tooth root become visible. This is a complex process with a wide variety of causes. In addition to the widespread disease "periodontitis", often referred to as "parodontosis", incorrect toothbrushing technique or a disease of the body can also contribute to receding gums.
Due to the exposed tooth root surface, sensitivity to thermal stimuli occurs on the affected teeth. Cold water or a draft of air will begin to cause pain.

What causes receding gums?

Recession of the gums is a multifactorial disease. On the one hand, it can be caused by inflammation, but it can also be triggered completely without inflammation by an incorrect force applied to the tooth.

Inflammation-related means that periodontitis exists. This triggers constant gum inflammation and the associated bone loss, which in the course of the disease also leads to a regression of the gums. This is because the gums follow the breakdown of the bone. This makes the tooth root visible and the tooth often becomes very sensitive to pain.

Read on below: Periodontal Disease - Causes, Symptoms & Therapy

An incorrect application of force is mainly triggered by external pressure. This occurs, for example, when you brush your teeth every day. Incorrect brushing technique, excessive brushing pressure or too frequent tooth brushing can damage the gums mainly on the outside and retract.

Usually, there are additional cleaning defects in the area of the exposed tooth root, i.e. H. the hard tooth substance is removed (this is also called wedge-shaped defects). The reason for this is that the surface of the tooth root is more sensitive and softer than the tooth enamel and is simply "brushed away" by the strong cleaning pressure.

You can also find out more at: The right toothbrushing technique

Furthermore, orthodontic treatment, i.e. a tooth change, can cause receding gums if too much force is exerted on a tooth too quickly.

Those who wear a tongue or lip piercing often suffer from receding gums in the areas that the plug touches most.

Recession of gums by electric toothbrush

In principle, an electric toothbrush can cause receding gums with the wrong brushing technique as well as a manual toothbrush.
However, many electric toothbrushes have the advantage that they have an integrated cleaning pressure control and indicate when they are being brushed too hard. They then light up red on the brush head and it is signaled that the cleaning pressure should be reduced. This prevents permanent damage.

If you stick to this rule, the electric toothbrush is much more gentle than the manual toothbrush, which has no control mechanism whatsoever.

Receding gums due to grinding and pressing

Grinding means that the rows of teeth are often pressed against each other at night or during stressful phases, while the teeth also rub against each other. Individual teeth are overloaded due to the strong clenching by being pressed into the bone. The gums react to the load and begin to remodel the tissue, whereby the gums recede without an inflammatory reaction. The tooth is damaged, begins to wobble and the gums recede.

A splint and physiotherapy can break this cycle and stop the receding gums.

Find out more at: Gnash splint

Gum regression due to stress

The body absorbs stress with various compensatory reactions. In addition to sending out stress hormones, many start grinding their teeth while sleeping. As mentioned earlier, the crunching can lead to congestion and receding gums.

However, the fact that the immune system is shut down during long periods of stress and the body is much more susceptible to inflammation and other diseases also has a supportive effect on the decline. Therefore, you should strengthen the body with vitamins during this time and, if necessary, have a crunch splint made.

Are you stressed? Read on under: Fight stress - that helps!

Receding gums due to braces

Nowadays, especially in adulthood, many resort to braces to gain a radiant smile. The older you get, the less the tissues can regenerate. Therefore, with orthodontic therapy from the age of 30, the risk of permanent gum recession increases.

To move the teeth, forces in the right direction are necessary. To a certain extent, the tooth and the surrounding tissue can withstand these forces. In addition, if the tooth is moved too quickly too strongly, the surrounding tissue can be damaged and the gums cannot cope with the movement. It's going back slowly.

At this point, a smaller force should be applied to the teeth so that the damage does not get worse.

Receding gums from smoking

Smoking can also lead to receding gums. The inhaled cigarette smoke leads to a variety of tissue remodeling processes on the oral mucosa and continues to stick to the teeth.

Tissue remodeling means that a kind of "horny layer" forms on the oral mucosa, which is less sensitive to the daily hazardous substances contained in smoke. However, this is less well supplied with blood and therefore more susceptible to pathogens. In addition, the only partially burnt substances in the cigarette smoke cause oxidative stress for the cells, so that the immune cells are impaired.
As a result, periodontitis spreads much faster than in non-smokers and leads to permanent damage and receding gums.

This could also be of interest to you:

The consequences of smoking
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Recession of the gums after periodontal therapy

After periodontal treatment, the gums may then recede.
It is a physiological process. The cause is that the gums were already inflamed and swollen as a result before the treatment. By removing the tartar below the gums and the bacteria causing it, the inflammation disappears. The gums swell again and therefore recede somewhat.

What are the symptoms of receding gums?

Depending on the underlying disease, a wide variety of accompanying symptoms can occur.

If the receding gums are caused by an incorrect toothbrushing technique, the affected teeth are usually only mild to moderate sensitive to cold.

However, when periodontal disease manifests, profuse bleeding gums and teeth loosening due to bone receding are common. These symptoms are caused by bacteria typical of periodontal disease. Provided they are kept in check with proper treatment, the disease cannot spread any further and the condition remains stable.

There are also various medications that can trigger gum inflammation with subsequent receding gums. These are, for example, drugs that are administered for immunosuppression in organ transplant patients.

Receding gums without inflammation

If a receding gum occurs without inflammation, it is often caused by an external force. There are several ways to do this.

Very often the problem is that one brushes one's teeth too hard and with the wrong technique. The gums are put under incorrect strain and the tissue is “scrubbed away” over time. The process can be stopped by using a soft toothbrush and adjusting the brushing technique.
Another cause can be excessive force exerted when moving teeth with braces. Especially when a new arch is inserted into the brace, the teeth are exposed to great forces. If these are too strong, the gums cannot adapt to the tooth movement as quickly and will recede. In this case, the direct visit to the orthodontist should be pending and the force should be reduced so that the damage does not get worse. With a little luck, the receding gums will even go back.
Finally, the crunch (bruxism) must be mentioned. When grinding, individual teeth are usually very heavily loaded at night and pressed into the bone. The tooth retention fibers are damaged and the gums retreat over time.

Receding gums with inflammation

If a receding gum with inflammation of the gums occurs, the affected person suffers from periodontitis in most cases. This is a chronic disease of the periodontium, in which there are many pathological, i.e. pathological, germs in the oral cavity that cause the inflammation.

At the beginning there is inflammation of the gums, which over time spreads and creates large gum pockets. If no treatment is initiated, the inflammation will progress and the bone will also be affected. He's going back.As the gums adapt to the bone, the well-known receding gums arise and the tooth root is exposed.

Sensitivity to thermal stimuli such as cold is the result and the teeth loosen over time. The receding gums cannot be reversed. The exposed tooth necks can only be covered again with a gum transplant.

Can you stop gums from receding?

In order to stop the receding gums, it is necessary to accurately diagnose the cause and then treat the underlying problem.

If there is an inflammatory cause, appropriate treatment must be given by the dentist (periodontal therapy).
The dentist will remove tartar and solid concretions lying under the gums with special instruments, i.e. clean the gum pockets, and use anti-inflammatory rinsing solutions and ointments to ensure a bacteria-free situation. In addition, you should gargle with a disinfectant rinse for a few days so that the disease heals well. In addition, there must be good oral hygiene and, above all, interdental hygiene so that the disease does not break out again. Smoking must be stopped as far as possible, since the constant stimulus reduces the blood flow to the tissue in the oral cavity and healing is much slower than in non-smokers.

Read also under: Periodontal Therapy

If the brushing technique is incorrect, the dentist or dental hygienist will point this out and give suggestions for improvement. In this way, the current level can be maintained and a further decline can be prevented.

If the gums recede when the teeth are moved, the orthodontist should be consulted immediately and, if necessary, the pressure on the teeth should be reduced to prevent further damage.

External stimulus factors such as Piercings should be removed.

Toothpaste for receding gums

There are many different toothpastes that are recommended for people with receding gums. As a rule, however, this does not play the decisive role in the

Treatment of this condition.

All toothpastes have the same mode of action:

the tooth is cleaned with emery,
Soap is used to chemically dissolve the plaque and
Fluorides strengthen the tooth so that it has new strength from damaging attacks,
while essential oils add great taste.

For the treatment of inflammatory receding gums, it is also advantageous if anti-inflammatory and disinfecting substances such as triclosan are present in the toothpaste. These support the dental treatment of bag cleaning and ensure more effective healing. Examples are the Parodontax® or Lacalut® toothpaste.

Since there is an abundance of products, everyone has to try the different recipes for themselves and find the right toothpaste for themselves. In the case of non-inflammatory receding gums, the very sensitive tooth necks are usually a problem. These can be treated well with the toothpaste "Elmex sensitive & repair®". This has been specially made for teeth sensitive to cold and contains substances that close the sensitive nerve tubules and thus create a long-lasting protective barrier and relieve pain during long-term use.

Often the symptoms disappear after a single use.

What medications can help with receding gums?

There are no medications to treat the receding gums, but the causes can be treated.

Various medications are offered as supportive treatment for periodontal disease. In particular, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial mouth rinses such as Chlorhexamed® or Paroex® with the active ingredient chlorhexidine are given for one to two weeks during the dental treatment.
Effective cleaning can thus be well supported and healing can take place quickly.

In the case of very aggressive bacteria and long or repeated treatments, additional antibiotics such as Metronidazole® are often administered so that the oral cavity is as bacteria-free as possible and the inflamed gums heal quickly.

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Chlorhexidine
Metronidazole®

Which home remedies help with receding gums?

Inflammatory receding gums can be improved and in some cases even stopped with anti-inflammatory substances. However, the lost gums will not grow back even after the inflammation has been removed.
These funds include, for example

Aloe vera gel or
Tea tree oil.
Simply massage these substances into the inflamed area and swallow the aloe vera and then spit out the tea tree oil.
Salt water also has a disinfecting effect. Prepare a rinsing solution with a glass of water and two tablespoons of salt, so that a saturated solution is created, so that not all the salt dissolves in the water and rinse several times a day for a few minutes.
Hydrogen peroxide has an antibacterial effect and above all destroys bacteria that could survive in the gum pockets without air. If you rinse twice a day with a solution of half a cup of water and a tablespoon of 3% H2O2, this can help in the treatment of periodontal disease.

Natural and plant extracts are particularly effective

Sage and
Thyme counteracts the receding gums.
To do this, make a tea from the dried leaves of both plants and rinse your mouth with it several times a day.

If the symptoms persist, you should visit the dentist, as it is possible that solid plaque has pushed itself under the gums, which can only be removed with special instruments.

Homeopathy for receding gums

An accompanying homeopathic therapy can also be helpful in the treatment of periodontitis, but it should only be carried out by an experienced practitioner.

Staphisagria helps against bleeding gums,
against the sensitive tooth necks and the Silicea infection.
Rhus toxicodendron counteracts the loosening of the gums and helps when pain persists.

These remedies can aid healing, but will not remove the deep-seated plaque. Even if the discomfort diminishes, the plaque must be removed so that there is lasting pain relief.

Schüssler salts for receding gums

Schüssler salts support body function and bring body functions into harmony.

The gums are strengthened by Calcium fiuoratum (number 1), as it keeps the gums elastic.
Bleeding gums can be relieved by using the number three salt (Ferrum phosphoricum). It reduces inflammation and strengthens the immune system.
Furthermore, number four and number eleven help to strengthen the gums in the long term.

The Schüssler salts are given in tablet form, which must be taken 2-3 times a day.

Prognosis for receding gums

The prognosis for periodontal disease is difficult because it depends on many different parameters. In addition to the aggressiveness of the various bacterial strains, oral hygiene at home and personal habits such as smoking also play a certain role. If all requirements are adhered to and if there is good oral hygiene, then one can assume a good prognosis and the disease will last for a long time. In this way the teeth are preserved in the long term and can remain in the mouth.

The prognosis for the non-inflammatory receding gums is much better. By removing the cause, you keep the state at a constant level.

Exposed tooth necks due to receding gums

An exposed tooth neck means that the gums have retreated so far that part of the root surface is open and no longer covered by gums. Since the root surface, unlike tooth enamel, contains connections to nerve fibers, the exposed surface can become sensitive. Especially cold or tricky / sour food irritates the affected tooth and this is felt as a sharp pain.

In many cases, it is enough to seal the exposed areas at the dentist with a special material so that the pain disappears. In more extreme cases, the dentist can offer advice and assistance and help with further measures such as a filling or a crown on the affected tooth.

Learn more about this at:

Exposed tooth necks - what to do?
Pain in the neck of the tooth
Tooth neck filling

Can receding gums indicate a deficiency?

Studies have found that periodontitis patients are often deficient in vitamins. In particular, the antioxidant vitamin C, which has an anti-inflammatory and wound healing effect, is often too little available. The lack of vitamin E or the trace elements zinc and selenium play a minor role. If several deficiencies arise due to another underlying disease or pregnancy, periodontitis spreads quickly.

Recession of the gums in children

Gum recession is much less common in children. Often here are the non-inflammatory causes.

In addition to the wrong toothbrushing technique plays here
the wrong eruption location of a tooth plays a certain role. If a tooth comes out in the wrong place or is very crooked, this means that the gums do not grow as they should.
Another cause is the lip frenulum in the lower jaw that is too deep. This can lie close to the front tooth and then pull the gums of the first two incisors downwards, causing a decline and a recession.
Children with braces can experience receding gums due to excessive force or tight-fitting wire.

Receding gums during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the risk of developing gingivitis is increased, especially in the first three months of pregnancy.

This is a special form of gingivitis that often disappears after pregnancy. The reason for this is, on the one hand, that the body is in an exceptional hormonal situation and the high level of estrogen leads to profuse bleeding gums with inflammation of the gums. On the other hand, all trace elements that are needed for healing are required for the child's development and thus healing is promoted.

Unlike the other causes of receding gums, gum receding during pregnancy can be reversible if there has been no bone loss.

Treatment is similar to that for non-pregnant women: professional teeth cleaning and pocket cleaning are in the foreground, but without further medication.

You might also be interested in: Inflammation of the gums in pregnancy

Diagnosis of receding gums

The diagnosis of receding gums is usually made by the family dentist during the routine check-up, which should take place about twice a year.

It is purely a visual diagnosis, in which the dentist often tests the exposed root surface with a cold spray to determine whether the exposed root is sensitive or not. If the cold is painful, it is an exposed, sensitive tooth neck, which requires further treatment in order to prevent chronic irritation of the tooth.
If it does not hurt, a clarification is only required if the decline gets worse.

A measuring probe, which is also used to measure the gum pockets, can be used to test whether the gums are receding.

Duration

There is no cure for periodontitis per se, as the bacteria that cause the disease remain in the oral cavity for life.
However, proper oral hygiene can ensure that the inflammation is reduced to such an extent that it no longer causes acute discomfort and the breakdown of bone and soft tissue is halted. In order to achieve this state, the infected pockets must be cleaned and rinsed with a disinfecting solution for several weeks. A stable state should be achieved after about three months. Professional teeth cleaning is then required every three months to keep the disease at bay.

Non-inflammatory receding gums can be stopped if the causal stimulus is switched off. This means changing the wrong brushing technique or removing the pressure on the braces by the orthodontist. Then the decline stops by itself.