Armed with a little knowledge, you can teach your children how to avoid some nasty inconveniences in life such as gum disease and receding gums! Read on to gain valuable insight.
Gum recession defined- Before we can get to why gums recede it is important to establish what recession actually is. Gum recession refers to retraction or separation of gum tissue from alveolar bone and teeth. In layman’s terms this is called: ‘getting long in the tooth’.
What causes gums to recede?- Pressure on teeth and gums is a major cause of gum recession. Aggressive brushing by hard bristle brushes, unbalanced jaws as well as spicy and hot foods may all potentially lead to retraction. Bacteria produced by plaque on teeth and underneath the gum line has been identified as the number one culprit destroying gum tissue and in turn leading to gum recession.
Other possible causes – Nutritional deficiencies including a lack of Vitamin C is also a potential cause of the problem, thus daily, nutritional supplements may be helpful.
Signs and symptoms- In the initial phase of the recession, signs and symptoms may not be clearly visible. However there are a couple of very clear indications that a serious underlying problem may be brewing including bad breath, loose teeth, pain or discomfort, tenderness and bleeding gums
What are the available treatment options?- Unfortunately, there is no ultimate cure for receding gums except surgery which may be very intrusive not to mention painful and not recommended for all patients due to the fact that the problem may not justify surgery.
There are two options that in addition to getting your teeth cleaned professionally every two to three months can help. One is the HydroFloss oral irrigator. This device is something that many people, both professionals and non-professionals alike think is worth having.
You should also consider getting some therabreath oral rinses. These rinses have the power of oxygen in them and this can help fight bacteria that produce gum disease and bad breath.
One thing is for sure, the battle against gum disease is a fight that must be fought every day. There is no ‘taking a day off’ This is especially true if you have already developed a problem that must be fix. Now, that you have a little bit of knowledge, go out and defeat this disease or prevent it from happening in the first place. This is a danger to every person and every family.