How To Help Receding Gums And Sensitivity?
You've probably heard of the term "gum recession" before, but do you know what it means? It's a condition where your gums recede away from your teeth, exposing more and more of them.
If left untreated, it can lead to tooth sensitivity, exposed gum roots, tooth decay, or even tooth loss. Mostly, the common cause is poor dental hygiene, which causes gum disease over time.
How can you help prevent this? We'll get into that in the following paragraphs!
Signs And Symptoms of Receding Gums
You should take care of your teeth and gums. If you don't, it can lead to a receding gum line when the tissue around your teeth starts to shrink back. It exposes the tooth's roots and makes them more sensitive.
How do you know if you have this condition? You might experience symptoms like sensitive or loose teeth, mouth pain, halitosis (bad breath), or a sore throat.
Causes of Receding Gums
Many things can cause this problem like aggressive tooth brushing, poor dental hygiene, disease-causing bacteria or viruses, genetics, gum injury, certain medicines such as steroids for asthma treatment that reduces saliva production leading to dry mouth.
Treatments, Oral Hygiene Routine, And Natural Remedies For Receding Gums
After some time, receding gums will make your tooth appear noticeably longer. The condition is irreversible once the problem begins to affect teeth, but progression can be slowed down.
Following are the options that can help you tackle receding gums:
Medications
A dentist can diagnose the best treatment option to fix receding gum tissues and teeth. Antibiotics are often prescribed if bacterial gum infections are present.
Other medications are also used to treat the underlying cause of gum disease and receding gums. Options include:
Surgical Treatment
Surgery is recommended in advanced cases of gum recession. There are generally two options: Flap Surgery, Pinhole Surgery, and Gum Grafting.
Gum Grafting or Tissue Grafts
For chronic gum recession, the best option may be oral surgery and tissue grafts. Treatment of a receding gum line and affected teeth is usually performed by a periodontist in the office, and you can go home the same day. Tissue grafts are common and somehow simple.
Several types of treatments exist for gum recession, such as tooth extraction and tissue graft. Less commonly, tissue from a tissue bank may be used to help rebuild bone or strengthen the roots of your teeth.
You may need to have stitches in one or two different areas of your mouth. Once the area heals, a normal appearance is achieved, and the tooth root is successfully covered.
Flap surgery
If other treatments fail, then flap surgery is a deep tissue cleaning. It should be done to help remove any bacteria and tartar that have built up within the gums.
When performing this surgery, a periodontist will lift the gums up and then put them back into place when it is finished. After flap surgery, the teeth can appear to be even longer.
Pinhole Surgery
Pinhole Surgery is another innovative option in the list of surgical treatments. A small pinhole is made above the receding gum area during this minimally invasive procedure.
Next, a special device is inserted through the surface to pull gum over the exposed root. Collagen injections are given at the gingival margin to stop periodontal disease and gingival recession.
It is a quick procedure that gives you immediate relief with exceptional results.
Veneers
Another option is veneers that match the gums, making you feel like all your teeth are securely in place. This condition can be treated on an individual basis by shaping and restoring the gum line.
The treatment is made with a variety of materials, including porcelain. White porcelain is a popular choice for replacement teeth, but other materials such as pink or reddish-colored resins can also be used based on what will look best for your needs.
The treatment helps strengthen and reshape diseased gums, which can help in some cases but not others. It covers the tooth partially or completely. However, this is considered a temporary option.
Scaling and Root Planing
If you have a mild gum recession at an early stage, your dentist will suggest scaling and root planing. This deep cleaning is oriented to the tooth surfaces, gums, and tooth roots.
It removes plaque and tartar that regular cleaning won't reach and smooths out tooth roots to prevent bacteria that destroy gum tissue.
Changes in Daily Routine After Surgery
You may have to avoid eating for some time before surgery to save from complications related to medication. The best way to reduce the pain and inflammation from the exposed tooth root is by eating cold food and drinks. You have to take a soft diet for some time and refrain from hard and acidic foods that may irritate your gum line.
In some cases, antibiotics are prescribed after surgery. You must take the antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor for the duration of time instructed.
In addition, you should avoid brushing and flossing at the surgical site for a week or until it has healed. A special mouthwash is prescribed for oral hygiene to prevent sticky plaque buildup.
Natural Remedies
There are several natural ways to help improve gum health, including the use of basic dental hygiene. The below remedies can be used alongside a more traditional treatment for receding gum.
Herbal Remedies
A study demonstrated that a mouthwash with basil, clove, and tea tree oil extracts could help with dental plaque and gum disease.
The essential oils such as thyme, peppermint, and tea tree oil showed to be antiseptic agents and fight oral bacteria.
Before the use of essential oils to treat receding gums, a person should consult with their dentist as some essential oils can be toxic if swallowed.
➢ Oil pulling
Oil pulling is a practice in which you swish oil around the mouth to reduce bacteria, resulting in gum disease, for at least ten minutes and then spit it out. Then keep the mouth clean by rinsing with water and brushing the teeth.
Be careful not to swallow the oil as it contains harmful bacteria and toxins.
➢ Anti-oxidants
Antioxidants are substances that stop the damage to the cells of the body. They may help to reduce plaque and gum inflammation related to gum disease.
They improve gum-tooth attachment and relieve bleeding gums. The antioxidant supplements having green tea extract and lycopene improve oral health if done with a good oral hygiene routine.
It is said that taking green tea helps treat swelling when used with other treatments.
➢ Septilin
A search for a natural remedy led to the discovery of septilin, a herbal supplement that has been shown to reduce swelling. It has following herbs such as:
- Guduchi
- Guggul
- Licorice
You should consult your dentist about the appropriate dose before taking Septilin.
➢ Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera is a plant that has benefits related to the health and well-being of its consumers. The topical application of Aloe Vera treats advanced periodontitis and reduces gum inflammation.
Injecting Aloe Vera Gel also shows significant improvement in gum health.
➢ Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 is unsaturated fatty acids present in fish, nuts, and seeds. It shows decreased gum inflammation, gum pockets, and improved attachment between the teeth and gums.
➢ Brushing and Flossing
Regular brushing and flossing with a soft-bristled toothbrush prevent receding gums and accumulation of bacterial plaque. This will also stop gum recession and gum inflammation.
The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth twice daily and floss at least once a day as it can save you from gum diseases and remove all the debris, even from the exposed tooth's root.
Other Treatment options
Following are some other options that can be considered:
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