When you think about your gums and teeth, you rarely compare them to your home and its foundation. However, they are similar. Just as the foundation gives your home strength, your gums do the same thing for your teeth. However, should your gums recede, problems can ensue. If you are wondering, “Can receding gums grow back?” we’ve got answers to your questions.

Signs of Gum Recession

If you suspect your gums may be receding, look for several things. To begin with, you may notice your teeth are looking longer than normal. Along with this, your gums may feel sensitive and be tender, swollen, or bleeding when you brush or floss. Finally, if you are experiencing recent problems with bad breath, this could also be associated with gum recession.

Causes of Gum Recession

Should you be experiencing gum recession, it could be due to one or a combination of several different things. While gum disease such as gingivitis, and poor oral hygiene practices such as failing to brush and floss regularly are the primary causes, gum recession can also be caused by brushing your teeth too hard or using a toothbrush with very strong bristles. Additionally, if you tend to grind your teeth, this can also be a primary cause, as can genetics, or if you have experienced a serious tooth or gum injury.

Will My Gums Grow Back?

As for the question of “Can receding gums grow back?”… the answer is no. Once your gums begin to recede, the cells within the gum tissue begin to die, leading to fewer and fewer cells that can regrow or regenerate. Thus, you wind up with receding gums.

What Treatments are Available?

While the problem of receding gums may sound dire, the good news is that there are treatments available that are proven to be very successful in most patients. One of the most common is scaling and root planing, which is a nonsurgical deep cleaning procedure. When this is done, your dentist will scrape away plaque and tartar from your teeth and gum line, allowing the healthy gum tissue to heal. Other treatments include a gum graft, a surgical procedure where tissue is transferred from your palate to your gum line to stop the additional recession, and gum veneers, which are dental appliances that can be used to cover up missing gum tissue.

Preventing Gum Recession

To prevent receding gums, brush your teeth twice daily with a soft-bristle toothbrush and also floss once per day. Along with this, try to avoid tobacco products, and also seek treatment if you have problems with teeth grinding. Last but not least, schedule regular checkups with your dentist.

Speaking of regular checkups, there’s no better time than now to schedule an appointment with us here at Mountain View Dental. With our comfortable office and friendly staff, we can make your visit pleasant and stress-free. If you have questions or want to schedule your appointment, visit us online or call us at 385-324-3557.