Receding gums: are they normal?

Identifying receding gums

Becoming more aware of the symptoms of receding gums can help you to recognise the problem earlier. Left untreated, receding gums can result in permanent and irreparable damage to the teeth and jaw bone, even making dentures hard to fit once you have actually lost teeth.

There are several symptoms of receding gums to look out for:

• Sensitive teeth – when exposed, the lower part of the tooth becomes sensitive to heat, cold and salty foods.
• Longer teeth – as your gums recede this will make your teeth appear longer, as if they are growing.
• Increased gaps – receding gums will no longer fill gaps between your teeth, making the teeth appear to be moving apart.
• Changes in colour – the shrinking gums may expose a visible line where the enamel stops and the root begins. You may even feel this as a ridge at the base of your teeth.

Bad brushing techniques and receding gums

Ironically, one of the major causes of receding gums is the way we brush our teeth. Excessive brushing can actually wear away the tissue along the gum line, exposing the lower part of the tooth. This can easily be corrected, and your dental hygienist will be happy to teach you a better brushing technique.

Conversely, not brushing enough can also cause receding gums, as it will not remove the bacteria that build up on the teeth. These bacteria produce enzymes that attack the jawbone; as this is damaged, pockets form that attract even more bacteria, making the receding gums problem even worse.

Receding gums caused by disease

There are two types of gum disease that contribute to receding gums:

• Gingivitis – this is a mild form of gum disease that results in swelling and infection that damages the tissue causing the gums to shrink back.
• Peridontitis – this is a far more destructive infection that can attack the gums and the jawbone below.

In both gingivitis and peridontitis, brushing causes bleeding and discomfort. This can often lead to inadequate brushing, which then only makes the situation worse.

Other causes of receding gums

Oral hygiene problems are usually to blame but there are many other causes:

• Pressure from an imbalanced bite or poorly balanced dental work. This causes trauma to the gums and the underlying bones and can cause receding gums as the natural alignment slips.
• Pressure from teeth grinding or clenching.
• The abrasive effect of piercings in the lips or tongue.
• Smoking, as the toxic chemicals in smoke erode the gum tissue.
• Eating disorders, particularly bulimia, as the acid in vomit erodes the gums, teeth and bone beneath.

Treatment for receding gums

In most cases, the only treatment required for receding gums is to eradicate the original cause and allow the tissue to recover naturally. This could be through better brushing, the use of anti-bacterial mouthwash (such as Corsodyl), realignment of the bite, repair to previous dental work or simply the removal of piercings.

Specialist toothpaste, designed for sensitive teeth, may also be recommended to ease the pain while the tissue grows back.

In more severe cases, where receding gums have reached a dangerous level, it is possible to carry out dental treatment  to graft gum tissue from elsewhere in the mouth onto the damaged area. This may come from nearby teeth or be taken from the roof of the mouth. Artificial grafts can also be used, and experiments are currently being undertaken to grow gum tissue from stem cells.

Avoiding receding gums

Receding gums are not normal and should always be a cause for concern. You can take action to reduce the risk of having receding gums by learning and following a good oral hygiene regime. With correct brushing techniques your gums should stay healthy but if you have regular check-ups at the dentist, any problems can be caught early. If you are aware that you grind or clench your teeth, your dentist may also be able to help you stop, or at least prevent this habit causing too much damage. Finally stopping smoking is an important step since you can then avoid the damage from the toxic chemicals in smoke that can easily undo even the best dental care.