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Treating Receding Gums

Why Treat Receding Gums?

It is important to treat receding gums as this condition can be caused by some underlying infection, and it could be that you require treatment from Leeds City Dentalcare for gum disease. Treating receding gums will help halt the progression of the disease, and is something that can be done in several different ways, depending on the severity of the infection.

Receding gums can also look less than attractive, so halting the recession is definitely preferable as it will help you to maintain a gum line that is more aesthetically pleasing. Gums that fit tightly around the teeth and which are healthy are easier to keep clean as you are less likely to get plaque and other debris stuck in the pockets that may form around the teeth. Healthy gums have pockets of between0 mm and 3 mm.

Treating receding gums is very important as it will help stop the decline of gum tissue. If your gums are diseased then it’s highly likely that the bacterial infection will eventually attack the ligaments responsible for holding your teeth firmly in position in the socket. If these ligaments are lost then your teeth are likely to become loose.

Receding gums can also expose the root of the tooth and this is covered in a layer of material called cementum. This is much softer than tooth enamel and is far more easily worn away, leaving the tooth at risk of developing decay.

Treatment for Receding Gums

If your gum recession is relatively mild then it might be possible to treat it with a simple scale and polish, but it’s probably more likely that your gums will require deep cleaning. This is a routine procedure that’s also called scaling and planing. The purpose of the treatment is to remove the plaque and tartar that have built up on the tooth and on any areas of exposed root. The area just below the gum line is then smoothed as this makes it far more difficult for the plaque bacteria to gain a foothold. This will help your gums to heal and will hopefully shrink the size of any gum pockets. This treatment is suitable for gum pockets have the depth of up to 5 mm.

If your gums have been more extensively damaged then you may require periodontal surgery for gum surgery. This can include measures to reduce the depth of the pockets and to clean out areas containing bacteria. There are various ways the lost gum tissue can be regenerated, as well as the bone and ligaments holding your teeth in place. It’s even possible to have gum tissue grafted onto affected areas, and this is generally grafted from another section in your mouth.

Preventing Gum Recession

Obviously it’s better to try and prevent gum recession, and this is one of the reasons why we recommend patients visit our Leeds surgery at regular intervals. Dentist Leeds will be able to assess your gums to make sure there are no signs of disease, and anything we do find is likely to be in the very early stages, enabling us to treat it before it can cause extensive damage. You can also help yourself by making sure you look after your teeth and gums at home, and by brushing them using a soft bristle toothbrush. Healthy gums also need a healthy diet, as they need certain nutrients for healing and maintenance. If you smoke it is best to quit as this increases your chances of getting gum disease. If you have any other conditions such as teeth grinding that may affect your gums then it’s well worth seeing Dr. David Brown or another of our dentists for advice on how to correct this problem.

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