Gum Recession: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options

Receding gums can be easy to overlook at first. You might feel some extra sensitivity in your teeth, or they may look a little longer than they used to. But if ignored, what started as a minor inconvenience can progress into a serious problem, including tooth loss.¹

Receding gums is a common of gum disease.² But since other health issues can also contribute to gum recession, it’s important to see a dentist to determine the exact cause. The good news is that early diagnosis and preventive treatment may help slow or stop the progression of receding gums before it becomes a more serious health issue.

What Are Receding Gums?

Receding gums occur when the gums pull back and away from your teeth, leaving the tooth root exposed and open to decay. Severe cases can affect more than one tooth, and the condition can leave your teeth vulnerable to cavities and other serious issues, including bone and tooth loss.³

Common causes

Receding gums are most often caused by gum disease. Gum disease is a condition that worsens over time. It starts when bacteria build up in your mouth, forming plaque and tartar that attack the gum tissue.² Receding gums may also be caused by a number of other factors, including:

• Aggressive brushing, which can irritate your gums and wear away your enamel³
• Aging may lead to natural gum recession⁴
• Crooked or misaligned teeth, which put stress on the gum tissue¹
• Genetics¹
• Grinding your teeth (bruxism), which leads to pressure on your gums¹
• Improperly fitted dentures or bridgework⁵
• Poor dental hygiene, such as not brushing or flossing regularly⁴
• Tobacco use, due to how damaging nicotine is to your gums¹
• Tongue or cheek piercings that rub against the gums⁴
• Trauma or injury to the teeth⁵

Symptoms

Symptoms of receding gums may include the following:

• Bleeding when brushing or flossing¹
• Dips in your teeth from the gums pulling away¹
• Exposed tooth roots and teeth that look longer¹
• Red or swollen gums¹
• Sensitivity to hot and cold foods or sweets³

Diagnosis

Your dentist can diagnose receding gums and periodontal disease during your regular maintenance check-ups and cleanings. They may use a probe to measure the depth of the pockets around the teeth. In a healthy mouth, these pockets are typically between 1 and 3 millimeters. If the pockets measure 4 millimeters, this is a sign of gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease. If the pockets are 5 millimeters or more, this is a sign of gum recession and more severe periodontal disease.³

Your dentist may also take X-rays to determine if bone loss has occurred.⁶

Treatment Options for Receding Gums

Unfortunately, receding gums can’t be reversed, but progression can be slowed or stopped. Depending on the underlying cause of the gum recession and its severity, certain treatment options may be recommended by a periodontist to help restore or reattach gum tissue around the teeth.⁴

Non-surgical options

For less severe gum recession, your dentist might recommend one or more of these treatments:

• Antibiotics. Your dentist may use topical antibiotics on your gums if you have early-stage gingivitis, which is reversible.⁵
• Brushing recommendations. In early stages, your dentist may recommend switching to a soft-bristle toothbrush and using a prescription toothpaste to better control plaque and tartar.⁵
• Composite gum restoration. Tooth-colored resins may be used to cover the exposed tooth root.⁵
• Gum veneers. Silicone or acrylic removable veneers may be added over gums that have receded significantly.⁵
• Orthodontics. If misaligned teeth or crowding issues are causing the gum recession, orthodontics may be recommended.⁵
• Scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical deep cleaning procedure to remove plaque and tartar buildup, helping the gums reattach and avert further damage. This may be recommended for mild to medium gum recession.⁴

Surgical options

For severe gum recession, surgery may be recommended:⁴

• Flap surgery with root planing. This procedure removes bacteria from the gum pockets and then reattaches your gums to your teeth.
• Gum graft surgery. Your periodontist may use a small amount of tissue from one part of your mouth and put it over the affected gums to help cover the exposed tooth root.
• Regeneration. Regenerative material is added beneath your gums to help regrow teeth and reverse bone loss. Your gums are then reattached to your teeth.

Tips to Prevent Gum Recession

Since gum recession can^’t be reversed once it’s happened — only stopped — your best approach is to take steps to prevent both gum disease and gum recession in the first place.⁴

Some steps you can take include:

• Brush twice a day and floss at least daily.¹
• Eat nutritious, vitamin-rich foods and cut back on sugary or acidic foods and drinks.¹
• Remove tongue piercings and other objects that wear against your gums.⁴
• See an orthodontist if your teeth are misaligned.⁴
• Stop using tobacco products.⁴
• Use toothpaste and mouthwash with fluoride.¹
• Wear a mouthguard when you sleep if you grind your teeth⁴

Brushing too hard can cause receding gum tissue and wear away at tooth enamel. You should be using a soft-bristled toothbrush with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle, so the brush is more likely to get at bacteria in your gums.⁷

Dental Hygiene and Regular Checkups Are Vital Parts of Preventing Gum Disease

Don’t assume that just because you have a thorough oral hygiene routine, you’re in the clear with gum disease. It’s important to see your dentist every six months for regular dental cleanings to get a better sense of your oral health, gum disease risk and overall assessment of your mouth.⁸ The good news is that with a combination of regular appointments and good dental habits, you’ll be able to catch gum disease early before it becomes severe, or even stop it completely.

Dental Financing With the CareCredit Credit Card

Regular dental checkups are important to help prevent, identify and treat dental problems before they become more advanced. The CareCredit credit card can help you pay for dental exams, cosmetic dental procedures and other costs that insurance doesn’t cover — to help you keep your pearly whites bright and healthy.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist near you that accepts CareCredit. Make the most of your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App. You can find a provider on the go, manage your CareCredit account and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to dental care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for pet care, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Stephanie Dwilson specializes in science journalism, breaking news and animal health and is a business owner, non-practicing attorney and writer.