Gum Recession Risk Factors

Gum recession is a condition during which your upper or lower gums begin to “recede” or pull back from your teeth. When this happens, it often results in teeth having an elongated appearance and sensitivities to hot and cold foods and drinks. It can also often lead to a greater number of cavities and even gum disease, if not already present. While in some cases, gum recession is hereditary due to thin gingival tissue, for most people, receding gums can be avoided by limiting risk factors.

Smoking and Nicotine Use
Smoking and nicotine use are major risk factors for gum recession, and they are rated number one as the most preventable. Fortunately, this risk factor can be completely avoided, resulting in a healthier atmosphere for teeth and gums. Smoking can not only lead to gum recession, but it can also cause periodontal disease, a serious form of gum disease. These bad habits irritate and inflame your gums by reducing the oxygen in your gum tissue. Persistent smoking and nicotine use can eventually even cause bone loss. If you have the ability to reduce your risk by limiting nicotine use or quitting altogether, you can also avoid being one of the 40 percent of smokers who lose all their teeth by the end of their lives.

Periodontal Disease
While periodontal disease is a detrimental condition in itself, it is also a risk factor for gum recession. People who have periodontal disease for an extended period without having it properly treated often suffer from debilitating consequences like loose teeth, chronically sore and inflamed gums, and receding gums. Over three-fourths of American adults possess some form of gum disease, but very few people realize they have it until it causes significant damage to their gums and teeth. While 30 percent of people are genetically predisposed to having periodontal disease, with proper oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist, you can reduce your risk of developing gum disease and by association, gum recession.

Poor Oral Hygiene Habits
Brushing your teeth too aggressively, not brushing and flossing adequately, and failing to visit the dentist regularly can all cause receding gums. Even if you are genetically predisposed to develop gum recession with age, it is important to seek out regular dental care, since a dentist can watch for recession and help you care for your teeth in a way that may slow the process. If you already have receding gums, a dentist can go over treatment options with you to prevent it from becoming worse with time and to fix the damage that has already occurred.

Malpositioned Teeth and Mouth Trauma
If you have malpositioned teeth, orthodontics may help reposition your teeth so your risk of developing gingival irritation and recession from excessive pressure and friction in certain areas is reduced. Mouth trauma is a common risk factor for receding gingival tissues, but this can be avoided by wearing a mouth guard during sports or seeking dental attention immediately following mouth injuries.

The best thing you can do to reduce your risk of gum recession is to visit a dentist at least twice a year. We can coach you on ways to reduce your chances of suffering the cosmetic and dental health consequences of developing receding gums.

Periodontist  >  Laser Dentistry

How to Avoid Gum Recession

To some extent, gum recession plagues nearly half of middle-aged adults and 88% of adults over age 65. While receding gums could, unfortunately, be inevitable for some since it can be a hereditary trait, others can avoid gum recession by caring for their teeth and gums properly. If you are interested in preventing the deterioration of your gums, and you want to keep your healthy, beautiful smile, continue reading to learn more about gum recession and how to avoid it.

Brushing Habits

Gum recession has many origins. Like mentioned briefly, some people are more prone to gum recession due to the inheritance of thinner gums that do not stand up well to daily wear and brushing. These people should take extra care when brushing and flossing to do so gently, and a soft-bristled brush should be used. No person should brush too aggressively as this can lead to the deterioration of even the healthiest gums.

Facial Trauma

Gum recession can also be attributed to facial trauma. If you have ever had an injury that affected your teeth and gums, your gums may be more likely to recede. You can prevent facial trauma by wearing a mouthguard when you play sports. Mouthguards act as a barrier for your teeth against any objects that make contact with your face. A dentist can fit you for a proper mouth guard, or you can find one at your local sports store.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is one of the biggest culprits of gum recession. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is the chronic inflammation and infection of the gums. This disease develops due to tartar (hardened plaque) buildup under the gum line that acts as an irritant to your soft tissues. You can prevent periodontal disease by visiting the dentist regularly, receiving deep teeth cleanings, and having cavities taken care of. If you do develop gum disease, you are at risk for not only gum recession but also tooth loss. If you notice that your gums are redder than normal, or they are bleeding easily, visit a dentist immediately for treatment. Regular flossing and brushing can also help you steer clear of gum disease.

Orthodontic Treatment and Oral Piercings

According to a study from the website of the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 15% of young adults out of 303 had gum recession, resulting in the confirmation that gum recession can be correlated with past orthodontic treatment and oral piercings. This statistic should encourage any patient undergoing orthodontic treatment to take special care of their teeth and gums during this time. Many patients give up on flossing during braces treatment because it becomes more of a challenge. Failing to floss results in the potential for gum disease and gum recession. Ask your orthodontist for tips on flossing during your treatment to ensure your gums remain healthy.

As for oral piercings, avoid them altogether. While they may be trendy for a time, the health of your teeth and gums should be more important. Oral piercings act as persistent irritants to your oral tissues, resulting in inflamed gums that will slowly recede.

There are many reasons for gum recession in addition to this list. In order to avoid it, the best thing you can do is to keep up with regular visits to your dentist. A dentist knows the signs of receding gums and can give you more tips on how to avoid it altogether. If you already have receding gums, visit our office to learn more about repairing them.

What Is Gum Recession and Why You Should Treat It Quickly

We can treat your gum recession and restore your gum health in the process. If you want healthy and beautiful-looking gums, it is important to take care of them. You can do so using ongoing, preventative care and having your teeth cleaned twice a year. This will help to prevent plaque from building up on your teeth, becoming trapped, and causing gum disease. However, if you go for too long in between teeth cleanings or do not practice good oral hygiene at home, you can fall victim to periodontal disease and gum recession.

What is gum recession?
When your gum tissue begins to pull away from your tooth structure, you have gum recession. It looks like your gums are shrinking or becoming smaller, and as a result, your teeth will look longer.

What causes gum recession?
Plaque and tartar building up under your gums will start to cause irritation. If the plaque is not removed, you can suffer from gum disease and your gums may begin to recede.

How is it treated?
We will start by removing any plaque and tartar from your teeth and on, under, and around your gums. This is the first step in making sure that anything irritating your gums is eliminated. If you have an infection of any kind, you may also need a treatment of antibiotics. Once this is done, we can begin to address the actual recession and start to secure your gums around your teeth.
We can restore the position of your gums using a gum grafting procedure. In this scenario, you are given anesthesia before the tissue is removed from the roof of your mouth and sutured to your gums. The procedure is effective but also invasive and does require a recovery time where you will want to be home and away from work. For this reason, many people do not have time to schedule this procedure to truly restore their gum health.

Fortunately, we have a non-invasive alternative. We use the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique™ to restore gums to full health. This is a far more comfortable procedure for you, our patient. It is a scalpel- and suture-free procedure, which means we do not need to cut into your gums or your mouth and we do not need to suture or stitch your gums back together. Instead, we are using innovative methods to stimulate gum growth and position the gums back around the teeth. By creating small pinholes with a needle, we can get into the tissue to stimulate and position the gums without actually cutting them. Since the procedure itself is non-invasive, your gums will not swell or bleed like they would with a surgical gum grafting procedure. While there may be slight discomfort for a day or two, it will go away quickly and can easily be controlled using an ice pack and ibuprofen. We have found that our patients appreciate how convenient the procedure and the recovery process is by comparison.
To learn more about the treatments we offer for gum recession, call and schedule an appointment for a consultation.

Periodontist  >  Lanap Laser Dentistry Palo Alto CA

Our Laser Gum Recession Treatment is Superior to Traditional Methods

When it comes to gum recession treatment, our laser treatment options have surpassed traditional methods in many ways. Before you undergo treatment for gum recession, it is important to know your options. Don’t settle for a treatment that will leave you experiencing discomfort. Some traditional methods can leave you in a long recovery period before your gums are completely healed. Continue reading to learn more about the major differences between traditional treatment methods and a laser gum recession treatment.

Traditional Methods

Traditionally, surgery to treat gum recession involved the use of a scalpel and other dental tools to peel back gum tissues in order to access the periodontal pocket (the destroyed area of tissues and bones that is loosened). Once the periodontal pocket and loose tissues are accessed, a dentist will cut these and suture other gum tissue in the area to reduce pocket length. Bone and tissue grafting may additionally be used to reattach gums to the tooth’s surface and to add more tissue to the area. To perform your gum graft tissue will be taken with a scalpel from the roof of your mouth. This sensitive area takes time to heal from an invasive method of removal.
The traditional methods of gum recession treatment do work, but they can also have a long recovery period. Patients may also experience discomfort during treatment even when the area has received an anesthetic. When you take the time to learn about the simple process of laser gum recession treatment as opposed to traditional methods, you may save yourself from unnecessary cutting and have a faster recovery.

Laser Gum Recession Treatment

Our laser gum recession treatment does not require the use of a variety of sharp dental tools like scalpels. For many patients, this cuts down on anxiety and nervousness when facing an oral surgery or gum grafting. With our laser treatment, we will perform a minimally invasive procedure to correct gum recession. Laser treatments do not normally cause pain or discomfort during the procedure and can easily determine which gum tissues are diseased or damaged and which are healthy. This speeds up the procedure and allows us to leave the healthy tissues unaffected. Your gum recession treatment time will be shortened by the use of lasers, and your recovery time will be much shorter. Our laser treatment easily and safely removes unwanted tissues and bacteria that could injure your remaining healthy gums and teeth. Laser treatment also reduces the possibility of inflammation, leading to a more comfortable recovery period.

If you are pursuing treatment for your gum recession, consider the benefits of our laser gum recession treatment. You can significantly cut down on your surgery and recovery time while still receiving amazing results. Our laser treatment accelerates results without compromising quality. Discomfort and the chance of other negative side effects are greatly reduced so visit our office to learn more about our treatment solution and if it is the right one for you.

The Link Between Gum Recession and Smoking

Smoking is a common habit, but many people do not realize it is a direct link to gum recession. There are many alarming stories about smoking and the negative effects it may have on your general health, but many people do not know that it can also greatly affect your oral health by creating an increased risk for gum disease and even oral cancer. Gum recession is a common issue in adults, and the cause is often not realized. If you have a history of smoking, you may fall victim to gum recession, or you could possibly already be experiencing it. The risk of gum disease and one of its major accomplices, gum recession, increases substantially when you smoke cigarettes or use tobacco in any form.

One of the first signs of periodontal disease, a detrimental condition that develops in your gums and causes deep infection and tooth loss, is gum recession. When you have not kept up with dental visits or made oral hygiene a priority, you may fall prey to periodontal disease. A few other factors, like smoking, can also contribute to the potential development of the condition. Since smoking involves direct contact with nicotine, smoke, and other toxins to your teeth, gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth, all of those tissues become weakened over time, increasing your chances of gum recession. Every time that you smoke you become more susceptible to developing problems with your gums. If gum recession is caught in the beginning stages, it can be slowed and nearly reversed, but if smoking continues and gum recession persists, you can have irreversible and unappealing damage that causes great discomfort. Even if your gum recession can be helped, smokers have a slower healing process because their oral tissue is generally weaker than the average non-smoker.

Not only does gum recession mar your appearance, it can also cause you to experience discomfort when you eat due to the exposed nerve endings near your teeth. These exposed nerve endings make your teeth more susceptible to decay. Even if your teeth are worked on and preventative measures are taken, you may still be subjected to tooth loss because of continued smoking. These problems are a physical and financial burden. Replacing lost teeth can be expensive and time-consuming, and your replacement teeth may never be as high-functioning as your natural teeth were. However, if you have your gums treated at the first sign of gum disease, the damage can be reversed, and your teeth may be saved.

If you smoke and already have some gum recession, we are able to help. If you are a smoker and are not sure if your gums are showing signs of recession, we can tell you. You can also watch for signs that include red and swollen gums, bleeding gums, and teeth that appear longer than normal. If you have neglected your oral health by continued smoking, now is the time to start paying attention. Visit our office at the first sign of a problem to give yourself the best chance of having healthy gums and retaining your natural teeth.

What Causes Gum Recession and How it is Treated

In our office, we treat gum recession on a regular basis and as such, are able to help our patients feel more comfortable and reduce the risk of bone and tooth loss that can come from a receding gum line.  Healthy gums are essential to the overall health of the mouth.  While most people focus their attention on the health of teeth, without the gums, the tooth structure and roots are exposed to bacteria and infection. With this in mind, a receding gum line is more than a cosmetic problem. 

Receding gums are often caused by genetics, something that, unfortunately, cannot be avoided.  There are, however, ways that you can improve the overall health of your gums and prevent them from receding or at least slow down the process.  It starts with what you put into your mouth.  Unhealthy habits like smoking, chewing tobacco or drinking alcohol in excess are bad for the health of your mouth and increase your risk of developing oral cancer and gum disease.  What you eat also plays an important role and by focusing on eating lean protein, green leafy vegetables, dairy products, and nuts, you can improve the health of your teeth and gums whereas foods that are high in sugar or acidic can attack your teeth and promote gum disease.  For this reason, focus on developing healthy habits in order to lower your risk factors. 

We have also treated patients that suffered from gum recession not due to a lack of oral health care, but by going overboard.  As with most things, moderation is the key so avoid brushing your teeth more than three times a day and use a soft or electronic toothbrush when you do.  Over-brushing and aggressive brushing can irritate your gum tissue and cause it to start receding.  You can get just as good of a clean by using a soft brush and brushing in a circular pattern, pushing bacteria away from your gums. 

Treatment Options
If you are suffering from gum recession now, you are likely experiencing some level of discomfort and are at an increased risk for developing infections.  In order to correct the problem and restore your gum tissue, we have several methods for treating it.  The traditional way is to perform a gum graft surgery.  In this scenario, tissue is taken from the roof of your mouth, or from a donor, and grafted to your gums in order to close the pockets and surround the tooth structure as it should be.  This procedure is often necessary for addressing major gum recession, and while you may be sore for a few days, it is extremely effective for protecting your teeth going forward.  

Those that are looking for a less invasive procedure may benefit from pinhole surgical rejuvenation.  To complete this procedure, we will create a small pin-size hole in the gum tissue, insert instruments and wiggle them around to expand the gum tissue.  It can then be secured to the tooth, accomplishing the same goal as a gum graft but without any cutting, sutures, or prolonged recovery time. 

Can Drinking Coffee Help to Prevent Gum Recession?

We specialize in treating people with gum recession and are often asked questions about what they could have done to prevent gum disease in the first place.  As such, we regularly read medical studies addressing this common health issue. Some people have a genetic predisposition to getting gum disease while other people suffer from poor oral hygiene and a lack of health care.  Additionally, people with diabetes and pregnant women are at an increased risk for the condition.  

While some people are more likely to struggle with their gums than others, a recent study out of the University of Boston indicates that there may be a natural way to help your gums stay healthier.  Researchers wanted to find out if coffee had any positive or negative effect on gum health.  In order to find the answer, they turned to the Department of Veteran Affairs and data they had collected over thirty years.  During this time, the VA collected dental exam records and food intake surveys from over 1,100 men in the Boston area.  This is a significant amount of data and provided researchers with the information they needed to determine the long-term effects of coffee.

While analyzing the data, they found that men who drank a cup of coffee or more per day had fewer teeth with bone loss.  This led lead author, Raul Garcia, D.M.D. to conclude that drinking coffee is good for the health of your gums.  In order to understand why coffee could be good for your gums or prevent gum recession, it is important to understand how gum disease works. 

Gum disease typically starts because bacteria has gathered on the surface of the gums and got in between the gums and teeth.  People that have restricted blood flow to their gums are at a greater risk for the disease spreading because restricted blood flow can make gums swell.  The bacteria can also make gums swell, and this is typically the first sign of the disease.  If it is caught in these early stages, a dentist can perform a deep cleaning to remove the bacteria so that the gums can start to heal naturally.  If, however, the disease is allowed to continue, gum recession will start to occur.  When gums recede, pockets are created in the tissue and bacteria will often gather there.  Since the tooth structure is exposed, the bacteria will then attack the tooth and can lead to bone loss inside of the tooth.  In many cases, teeth fall out as a result. 

Coffee is an anti-inflammatory, so researchers concluded that the men who drank it regularly were preventing their gums from swelling.  Since this is the first sign of gum disease, by preventing or reducing swelling, they could have been preventing or reducing their risk of gum disease in general.  It stands to reason that people with less gum disease would also have fewer teeth with bone loss.  We would like to see additional research conducted but for now it appears that drinking a cup of coffee every day could reduce your risk for gum disease and gum recession. 

Tissue Grafting Can Treat Gum Recession

The Perio & Implant Center by Stanford Medical Center treats gum recession using a variety of modern techniques.  Dr. Pechak is an expert cosmetic dentist and oral surgeon that helps improve the health of his patients using procedures that are customized to address their specific health issues. If you feel that your gums may be receding, schedule an appointment for an examination and to discuss treatment options. 

One of the first treatment options is found in laser dentistry.  Dr. Pechak uses a dental laser to clean the gums and gum pockets in order to remove harmful bacteria.  When bacteria are left on and around the gums it can spread, making the problem worst.  Killing the bacteria is an important first step in allowing the body to start the healing process.  The laser light kills the bacteria without damaging the healthy gum tissue.  If necessary, Dr. Pechak can use an ultrasonic scaler to break up and loosen tartar that has formed around the teeth as well.  This procedure will help the gums to be in better health overall.  When gums have started to recede, simply cleaning them and keeping them bacteria free can help to stop the damage.

Gums that have receded significantly may need more in-depth treatment like tissue grafting.  This is also known as a gum graft or gum plastic surgery.  This procedure is necessary when the gum recession has become so bad that the roots of the tooth are exposed. In order to cover it, tissue is typically taken from the roof of the mouth and grafted to the existing gums.  This helps to stop the pain created by exposed roots, prevent bacteria from getting into gum pockets, and promotes overall oral health.  An experienced Periodontist should perform this procedure as it is highly specialized.  Dr. Pechak is a Board Certified Periodontist that produces superior results for patients in need of gum plastic surgery. 

He also performs a procedure called Chao Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation.  This is the latest treatment option for gum recession and is known for addressing the problem in one easy visit without extended recovery times. In fact, it can be completed over the lunch hour and patients can head back to work immediately afterwards. This is not a traditional surgery as no scalpels are used, and there are no stitches.  The results are stunning with gums being restored to their youthful smile without pain or discomfort.  Dr. Pechak is one of the few dentists that offer this new procedure. 

Gum recession can be painful and pose a serious threat to the patient’s health.  Pregnant women, for example, need to be careful not to get infected gums because it can lead to premature delivery. Diabetics are naturally at a greater risk for gum disease and gum recession can expedite the process while increasing the risk.  It is far better to receive treatment to address gum recession and reverse its course before it can cause pain or additional health issues.  To learn more call the Perio & Implant Center by Stanford Medical Center today.

The Facts About Gum Recession

Many people suffer from gum recession.  It is a fairly common condition that impacts the majority of adults.  Similar to how more people lose teeth as they age, more people suffer from this condition as they age.  By the time someone is 65 they have an 88 percent likelihood of dealing with receding gums.  Fortunately, there are things you can do to prevent and treat it.

What is it?

This condition occurs when the gum tissue starts to pull back or wear away from the tooth.  When this happens, more of the tooth is exposed and in severe cases the roots can be exposed, as well.  During this time, a gap can form in-between the tooth and the gums, creating the perfect spot for bacteria to hide and plaque to build up.  This can lead to gum disease and tooth infections. If that bacteria isn’t removed it can start to eat away at the tooth, roots, and even bone structure, causing major oral health problems.

What causes gum recession?

There are multiple triggers for this condition, many of which can be avoided.  Gum disease is a common medical reason for gums to recede.  When bacteria are left along the gum line, it can create gum disease.  As the bacteria spreads, it will go underneath the gum line and start to cause additional issues.  This can be prevented with regular trips to the dentist where we can remove the bacteria and reverse the signs of gum disease. 

Other triggers include: aggressive brushing with a hard toothbrush, hormonal changes during pregnancy or menopause, using tobacco products, and genetics.  Hormones and genetics are natural risk factors that cannot be prevented.  It is, however, easy to switch to a soft toothbrush and quit smoking.  Reducing risk factors is important for people that don’t want to become one of the 88 percent. 

How is it treated?   

The first step is to thoroughly remove the bacteria and plaque that has formed on your teeth, along your gum line, and inside of the exposed pockets.  The bacteria and any infection needs to be removed in order for the body to stay in good oral health and not deteriorate. Deep cleaning is often called tooth scaling and root planning because the dentist has to clean underneath the gum line.  Antibiotics are often given, in addition to removing the bacteria, just in case there are any bacteria left.

Patients with severe gum recession will require more than a simple cleaning.  In this case, various surgical procedures may need to be performed. Pocket depth reduction is completed when the dentist wants to remove the bacteria than place the gum securely over the tooth in order to keep it snuggly in place and eliminate the pockets where bacteria is gathering.  Soft tissue grafts take place when there isn’t enough natural gum tissue left to do this procedure.  Skin is cut from the roof of your mouth and grafted to your gum tissue to create new gums, then secured into place. 

An experienced dentist can perform these procedures and will use anesthesia to keep the patient comfortable. Once completed, it is important to maintain good oral health habits at home in order to prevent further gum recession or additional oral health issues. 

Gum Recession Treatment Options

We treat patients suffering from both gum recession and gum disease.  Healthy gums are extremely important for maintaining good oral health.  When gums start to recede the space between the gum line and the teeth retracts and can create pockets for bacteria to gather.  As more of your tooth and roots become exposed the entire area may become painful, and bacteria build up can lead to tooth decay, root infection, and gum disease.  If left untreated, patients can end up in pain and even losing their teeth.

We specialize in helping patients to prevent oral health issues and correct them once started.  There are several ways you can keep your gums healthy including brushing twice a day with a soft toothbrush, flossing daily, and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash.  Additionally, you should visit the dentist twice a year for a thorough teeth cleaning.  Smokers are at greater risk for gum disease and cavities so if you are currently smoking – stop.

During your dental examination, we will determine if your gums are starting to recede or if you are at risk for this condition.  It is important to treat gum recession immediately so that your gums can be restored to good health.  Here are some of the treatment options we suggest:

·         Tooth Scaling and Root Planing.  This is a deep cleaning technique where plaque and tartar are removed from the gum line and below the gum line by the roots.  The entire area is cleaned thoroughly to remove the cause of your gum recession.  After cleaning, the roots are smoothed down again.  This should correct most minor gum recession problems.

·         Antibiotics.  Once cleaned, antibiotics may be used to eliminate any lingering bacteria.

·         Pocket Depth Reduction.  If your gums have receded to the point that there are pockets or gaps in the gum line, you may need surgery to correct it.  With pocket depth reduction, your gums are folded down; the bacteria and plaque are removed, then they are placed snugly over your tooth to eliminate most or all of the gap.  This will prevent bacteria from gathering in that area again.

·         Soft Tissue Graft.  If you don’t have enough gum tissue left, you may need a soft tissue graft.  Skin from the roof of your mouth is taken and attached to your gums in the area where roots are exposed. Once healed this new gum tissue should protect your teeth and gums.

Fortunately, there are multiple options for treating gum recession.  They key is to identify the problem early on so that it can be corrected before you need any type of surgery.  This can be difficult to do without visiting the dentist because gum recession typically won’t start hurting until too much of the tooth or the roots are exposed.  It will, however, make your teeth appear longer, and you may experience some tooth sensitivity when brushing or eating.  If you notice these signs schedule an appointment with your dentist right away.  By keeping your teeth and gum line clean and free from bacteria, you decrease your risk of developing full blown gum recession and other oral health issues.

The Facts About Gum Recession

People of all ages can suffer from gum recession.  It is a fairly common phenomenon but can cause discomfort none the less.  Many patients don’t even realize that they have receding gums until they start to experience more tooth sensitivity. 

We treat patients with this and other oral health concerns.  Our goal is to educate patients so that they can practice preventative care at home and in between visits.  By properly caring for your teeth, you can slow the symptoms down and start to feel better.

What is gum recession?

When the gum tissue surrounding your teeth wears away, they are receding.  At first, it may not be very noticeable but over time you will see more of your tooth and may eventually start to see your roots.  Gaps can appear between the gum line and your tooth.  This is the perfect spot for bacteria together, which will cause further problems.

What will happen if I don’t treat this?

You could lose your teeth.  If gums recede too far, bacteria will build up and start to attack your teeth and root system.  This will weaken them and can lead to tooth loss.  It is far better to treat your gums and avoid this scenario.

Why does this happen?

Gum disease is a major cause, but there are multiple other reasons for your gums to recede.  This includes genetics, brushing too hard, not getting dental care, smoking, hormonal changes, grinding your teeth, crooked teeth, and piercing your tongue or lip.  Some of these things, like genetics, cannot be avoided.  You can, however, quit smoking or take out a piercing.  If grinding your teeth is the problem we can create a mouth guard that will protect your teeth at night. 

How do I prevent this?

Start by using the right toothbrush at home.  We recommend an electric one that provides excellent brushing without a lot of pressure.  Heavy, aggressive pressure can cause hurt your gums so this is the easiest way to clean your teeth.  You should brush your teeth a minimum of twice per day and floss daily.  This will help to prevent bacteria build up.  It is also important to rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash.  If your gums have already started to recede the mouthwash can attack bacteria in the more exposed areas.

Twice a year you should visit the dentist for a proper teeth cleaning so that we can remove built up plaque, tartar, and bacteria.

What are my treatment options?

We can deep clean your gums by carefully removing any bacteria or plaque that has built up underneath the gum line.  This is also called tooth scaling and root planning.  Antibiotics are also prescribed to eliminate any lingering bacteria.  If the recession is severe you may need to have gum surgery to eliminate the pockets, regenerate your gum tissue, or to create more tissue with a skin graft. 

In order to determine the best course of treatment, it is important to schedule an appointment where we can inspect your gums and discuss a treatment plan.  Working together we can help to improve your oral health and eliminate any discomfort you may be feeling. 

What is Gum Recession and How is it Treated?

People that are suffering from gum recession have their gum tissue slowly erode. The amount of gum tissue that surrounds the teeth slowly disappears or recedes back toward the root of the tooth.  This can be a sign of gum disease and become painful over time.

The main danger with a receding gum line is that the area between your teeth and gums will become exposed for bacteria to gather and cause infection or disease.  People with receding gums are at greater risk for losing their teeth.

Many people suffer from gum recession.  This regularly occurring phenomenon often goes untreated because it happens gradually, without causing an alarm.  By the time some people notice the problem an infection has already set in.

Signs of gum recession:

• Tooth sensitivity
• Teeth looking longer than they used to
• Feeling a notch near the gum line.

What causes gums to recede in the first place?

It is possible for gums to recede without provocation.  There are, however, risk factors you can avoid.

• Aggressive tooth brushing.  Try using a toothbrush with soft bristles and go gently around your gum line.  An electronic toothbrush is your best option.
• Hormonal changes.  Women are more susceptible to having receding gums after periods of hormonal changes like pregnancy and menopause.
• Tobacco.  Cigarettes and chewing tobacco can leave plaque on teeth, increasing the risk of all oral health problems.
• Periodontal disease.  This is a bacterial infection that can destroy gum tissue.
• Genes.  According to several studies, over 30 percent of the population is predisposed to receding gums.
• Poor dental care.  People that don’t visit the dentist for teeth cleanings and checkups are more likely to experience all types of dental problems.

Treatment Options

If you are suffering from gum recession there are various ways to treat it. A laser dentist, like Dr. Pechak, is able to provide the least painful treatment options by using modern laser technology.

Treatment includes:

• Tooth scaling and root planning.  This involves a deep cleaning of the teeth and gum area.  The dentist will take a tool and place it underneath the gum line to remove plaque.  Dr. Pechak uses a laser to remove the plaque under the gum line, so the patient doesn’t have the pain, swelling, or bleeding usually associated with this procedure.
• Pocket depth reduction.  In this procedure, a dentist folds the gum tissue back, removes bacteria, and secures the gum tissue over the root line which eliminates any pockets or gaps. 
• Connective tissue graft.  Tissue taken from under the roof of your mouth is stitched to your gum line.  The tissue grafts together to create a new gum line.

Gum recession and subsequent treatment is a serious health concern that should be treated by an expert dentist.  Laser dentistry can provide relief in a minimally invasive way.  Dr. Pechak treats receding gums and provides laser dentistry, making the Perio & Implant Center of the Monterey Bay a destination for patients with all types of oral health concerns.