Gum recession is a disorder that affects the soft, pink tissue surrounding the teeth.
The gingivae, or pink tissue in the mouth that reaches the base of the teeth, are known as the gums. Each pair of teeth has its gum or gingiva.
The gingival tissue is thick. It contains a good supply of blood vessels beneath a mucous membrane, a moist surface. The gingival tissue is pink instead of glossy red and joins to the remainder of the mouth lining. Check my blog about reverse gum recession
The gums are closely linked to the jawbone and cover each tooth up to the neck. The gums cover and protect the roots of the teeth when they are healthy.
A gingival recession occurs when a person’s gum tissue begins to deteriorate. It exposes the teeth’s vulnerable roots to bacteria and plaque, leading to damage.
In this article, we will go through gum recession causes, symptoms, and how oil pulling works.
Causes
Gingival recession, also known as gum recession, occurs when the gum tissue recedes and lowers its position on the tooth, exposing its roots. A variety of lifestyle choices can cause this, and the condition’s origin will frequently determine the therapy you receive.
Gum recession can be caused by a variety of factors, including the following:
Periodontal infections
These are bacteria-caused gum infections that destroy gum tissue as well as the bone that holds your teeth in place. Gum recession is most commonly caused by periodontal disease. Because periodontal disease is rarely painful in its early stages, symptoms often go untreated. Early symptoms, however, can progress to periodontitis if left untreated.
Brushing too vigorously
Brushing your teeth too hard or incorrectly can wear away the enamel on your teeth and cause your gums to recede. Brush using an electric toothbrush like the Oral-B iO to get precisely the appropriate amount of pressure. Its Smart Pressure Sensor technology warns you when you brush too hard, helping to safeguard your gums.
Inadequate dental treatment
Plaque can easily transform into tartar, a hard substance that grows on and between your teeth and can only be eliminated by a professional tooth cleaning, due to insufficient brushing, flossing, and rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash.
Hormone concentrations
Gum recession can be exacerbated by changes in estrogen levels during a woman’s life, such as during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
Products containing tobacco
Tobacco users, including smokers, are more likely to acquire sticky plaque, which can lead to gum recession.
You’re clenching and grinding your teeth.
Clenching or grinding your teeth can cause gum recession by exerting too much strain on the teeth.
A misaligned bite or crooked teeth
Too much force can be put on the gums and surrounding bone when teeth don’t come together evenly, causing the gums to recede.
Symptoms
Receding gums occur when the gums pull back from the surfaces of your teeth, potentially exposing the teeth’s roots. Periodontal disease, often known as gum disease, is characterized by receding gums. Receding gums are quite common, however they can lead to tooth loss, so it’s critical to address and treat receding gums as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of the problem, there are a variety of treatments available, and the outcome is often better when therapy begins as soon as feasible. According to some estimates, three out of every four persons has receding gums or some other form of periodontal disease. Gingivitis, which means “gum inflammation,” is the first stage of periodontal disease. Bacteria and plaque accumulate on the teeth and gums. Plaque can harm the gums and cause them to recede over time. When the gums pull back from the teeth, pockets form, providing an ideal environment for bacteria and plaque to grow even more. Poor oral hygiene, forceful brushing, smoking, tartar buildup, hormonal fluctuations, certain illnesses, or genetics can all contribute to receding gums. Certain drugs might cause dry mouth in some people, which can increase the risk of receding gums. Gum recession is more common in people over the age of 40. Bleeding after flossing or brushing, swollen or discolored gums, foul breath, aching gums, exposed tooth roots, and loose teeth are all signs of periodontitis. During a typical dental office visit, a dentist can diagnose periodontal disease and receding gums. Dentists can sometimes detect receding gums during a routine physical examination. Other times, dentists will use a probe to measure the pockets created by receding gums; depending on the depth of the pockets, they may diagnose gum disease and recommend you to a periodontist.
Patients will consult with a periodontist to develop a treatment plan that will preserve surviving gum tissue while also protecting the teeth. If the gums are infected, the periodontist may prescribe antibiotics or an enzyme suppressor, which can be either topically or orally. Surgery may be considered as a treatment for periodontal disease in the most severe situations. Flap surgery and grafting are the two most popular procedures. A periodontist performs flap surgery by lifting a flap of gum tissue, cleaning behind the flap, and then reinstalling the gum tissue. Grafting is the process of adding natural or synthetic material to the gum tissue to aid in its restoration. In all circumstances, patients must maintain great dental hygiene after the treatment to ensure that the advantages endure.
Periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. The teeth may fall out or loosen to the point that they no longer serve a mechanical function and must be removed by a dentist if there is insufficient gum tissue in the mouth to hold the tooth roots in place. Seeing a dentist for regular examinations and cleanings is the greatest approach to avoid receding gums. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, a dentist can detect the early stages of gum disease. You can also help to prevent gum disease by maintaining good oral hygiene. Plaque may be removed with frequent at-home cleaning, such as flossing and brushing, but tartar, which is a major contributor to periodontal illnesses like receding gums, requires expert cleaning. As a result, at-home cleaning cannot be used as a replacement for professional cleaning. Periodontal disease has an excellent prognosis if treated early, so you should seek medical help by contacting your dentist at the first indication of soreness or irritation of the gums, and get appointment even if everything appears to be OK.
What Can I Do to Avoid Gum Recession?
Taking good care of your mouth is the best approach to avoid gum recession. Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day, and visit your dentist or periodontist at least twice a year, or as prescribed by your dentist or periodontist. Your dentist may want to see you more frequently if you have gum recession. Always brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and ask your dentist to demonstrate you how to do so properly. If gum recession is caused by a misaligned bite or tooth grinding, talk to your dentist about how to fix the condition. Other techniques to keep your gums from receding include:
- If you smoke, you should stop.
- Maintain a healthy and well-balanced diet.
- Keep an eye on any changes in your mouth.
- You can enjoy a healthy smile for the rest of your life if you take appropriate care of your teeth.
How to treat receding gums naturally?
You can treat your receding gums naturally by following remedies:
- Oil Pulling. Oil pulling is a great way to naturally reduce plaque and prevent gingivitis. …
- Eucalyptus Oil. …
- Saltwater Rinse. Helpful to prevent receding gums
- Aloe Vera. …
- Peppermint Essential Oil. …
- Septilin. …
- Turmeric Gel. …
- Hydrogen Peroxide.
Essential oils for gum tissue
Eucalyptus oil is an anti-inflammatory germicide that aids in the healing of receding gums and the formation of new gum tissue. Peppermint — The antiseptic and antibacterial qualities of peppermint oil can help prevent disease-causing germs from infecting diseased gums. Moreover, back essential oils, essential oil toothpaste, diy essential oil, frankincense essential oil and yarrow essential oil are also helpful to reverse receding gums.
Oil pulling for receding gums
Oil pulling is touted as a safe and effective alternative to conventional toothpaste and mouthwash. However, there is currently little data to support its usage in oral care.
What exactly is oil pulling?
While oil pulling may appear to be a labor-intensive task in the resource industry (similar to grape stomping or cattle roping), it is quite simple. It entails swishing oil in one’s mouth.
Before eating or cleaning your teeth, do the following first thing in the morning:
- Take roughly a tablespoon of edible oil and mix it with the rest of the ingredients (such as olive, sesame, coconut, or sunflower oil).
- Do not swallow it after putting it in your mouth.
- While performing your usual bathroom routine, swish it around for 10-15 minutes.
- Spit it out at the end of the 10-15 minutes.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water fully.
- Brush your teeth, floss, and get on with your day.
While oil pulling has recently gained popularity, it has been practiced for a long time. Before mouthwash, dental floss, and toothpaste, for example.
Oil pulling is described as a strategy to promote dental health and prevent bad breath in the Ayurvedic text Charaka Samhita, which is almost 2000 years old.
(The most popular oils used were sesame or sunflower.)
Of course, just because something has been around for a long time and is described in an ancient Ayurvedic text does not imply it is always a good idea.
Let’s look at what modern science has to say about it.
What is the mechanism of oil pulling?
Oil pulling may, in theory, help to reduce plaque and gingivitis.
Oil fat reacts with specific molecules in the mouth to make “soap.” Soaps emulsify and create surfactants, which can help to clean the mouth by “scrubbing” away harmful microbes.
Lignans, which have antioxidant and antibacterial properties, are also found in oils.
The research, on the other hand, isn’t entirely persuasive. Most studies on oil pulling are tiny, brief, or incomplete.
That isn’t to say it isn’t useful. It just signifies that science hasn’t progressed far enough.
What is the conclusion of the research?
Receding gums
Consider the appearance of a turtleneck. Consider your gums to be the turtlenecks for your teeth. Microorganisms are kept at bay by the “turtleneck” gum line.
Microorganisms dig deeper if disease and plaque build-up at the “turtleneck” gum line, causing gums to recede away from teeth.
Gum recession occurs when the “turtleneck” gum line disappears, allowing bacteria to reach areas of the tooth where there is no protective enamel. Gum recession is a possibility for people who use braces.
There is currently no research on how oil pulling affects receding gums.
Ellie Phillips, DDS, is a big proponent of oil pulling. On the other hand, oil pulling is not recommended for people who have gum recession or sensitivity since it might harm biofilm and pellicle proteins, which are essential for a healthy mouth.
As a result, if you’re utilizing oil pulling to treat receding gums, do so only once in a while.
Breath problems (halitosis)
The mouth is responsible for about 85% of foul breath.
(The rest comes from the intestines and could indicate a health issue such as a change in GI flora.)
Gum disease, dental disease, and tongue coating are all common causes of chronic disorders like diabetes, GI disease, and liver disease.
According to studies, oil pulling is as efficient in combating foul breath as a common ingredient in over-the-counter mouthwash.
Plaque and gingivitis reduction
The inflammation of the gums causes gingivitis.
It usually happens when your immune system begins to battle the microorganisms in dental plaque.
Oil pulling was shown to be just as effective as a typical ingredient in over-the-counter mouthwash in treating plaque-induced gingivitis in one research.
Oil-pulling recommendations
If you’re searching for anything more to try, you could try oil pulling to see if it helps.
Make an appointment with your dentist to do a before-and-after test. Before you start oil pulling, have your teeth tested and have your dentist take detailed notes on your overall oral health. (Oh, and you should probably see your dentist.) S/he most likely misses you.) Then try it out. Make an appointment with your dentist a few months later to see if any changes have occurred.
Check to see if oil pulling is right for you. Suppose you have sensitive teeth or gum recession. Oil pulling on a weekly or biweekly basis may be preferable to daily oil pulling. To understand more about the intricacies of your dental health, consult your dentist once more.
Experiment with different types of oil. Coconut oil, in particular, is thought to have antibacterial characteristics.
Adding other essential oils to the mix is a good idea. Many essential oils, such as peppermint oil, thyme oil, lavender oil, tea tree oil, oregano oil, or basil oil, are either microbicidal (that is, they kill pathogens) or bacteriostatic (that is, they prevent bacteria from “sticking” or colonizing) and have been tried in dental care regimens.