Gum recession is a common dental condition that, if ignored, can cause serious issues with oral health says a dentist in Houston. Keeping your smile healthy requires an understanding of gum recession’s causes, prevention, and treatment. Being proactive about gum health is especially crucial for Houstonians because of the city’s diverse food and lifestyle choices.

Causes of Gum Recession

When gum recession occurs, the gums surrounding your teeth wear away or pull back and expose more of the tooth or its root. Several factors can cause this condition:

1. Poor Oral Hygiene: Plaque builds up if you don’t brush and floss enough, which then leads to gum disease and recession.
2. Aggressive Brushing: Brushing teeth too vigorously or using a hard-bristled toothbrush can damage the gum tissue, causing recession.
3. Periodontal Disease: Gum disease is caused by bacterial infections that cause the gum to become red, swollen, and infected leading it not only to recede but also to destroy gum tissue and supportive bone structure.
4. Genetic: Others have a genetic predisposition to it, so no matter how well you are at taking care of your oral health they will be more likely than others.
5. Hormonal Change: The hormonal changes of puberty, pregnancy, and menopause in women can make gums more sensitive and more vulnerable to recession.
6. Tobacco Use: Smoking and other tobacco use can also harm gum tissue and cause recession.
7. Teeth Grinding and Clenching: More on risks to teeth from grinding, clenching and gum recession
8. Misaligned Teeth or Bite: Misalignment of teeth also puts extra pressure on the gums, leading to recession.

Gum Recession Prevention

There are ways you can take to prevent gum recession including:

1. Regular Flossing: Daily flossing will help clean off the plaque and food between your teeth, as well as around your gums.
2. Routine Dental Check-ups: Schedule Your Visit to a Dentist in Houston for teeth cleaning and check your mouth regularly. Early recognition of Gum problems could save away from even more recession.
3. Healthy Diet: Maintain a good diet with all the vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C which is important for healthy gums.
4. Quit Smoking: Avoiding tobacco products, which can lower your chances of gum disease and recession.

Methods to Treat Gum Recession

If you know that your gums have already receded, the good news is there are several ways to treat and repair them:

1. Scaling and Root Planing: This deep cleaning procedure scrapes plaque and tartar from below the gum line, encouraging your gums to reattach to your teeth.
2. Gum Grafting: This requires removing tissue from another part of your mouth and grafting it to the receded area to cover over that exposed root.
3. Pinhole Surgical Technique: A minimally invasive surgical procedure that includes creating an opening in the gum tissue and utilizing specific instruments to move the gums up again, covering the bare origins
4. Laser Therapy: Infected gum tissue can be removed with laser treatment to allow the gums to heal, which will assist in reducing gum recession.
5. Regenerative Procedures: In cases where bone has been lost, regenerative procedures can restore natural jawline contours using barrier membranes or tissue-stimulating growth factors.

Gum recession is a condition you would not wish on your worst enemy, as it can become problematic. Houston residents can keep their gums healthy in the face of recession by knowing what causes it and how to avoid it, as well as where appropriate city dentist treatments are available. Maintaining long-term dental health and a confident smile requires routine dental checkups and excellent oral hygiene habits. To create a customized treatment plan, speak with your Houston dentist if you think you may have gum recession.