Gingival recession is one of the worst things that could happen because it's difficult to stop. What results is the unsightly exposure of the roots of the teeth. There are so many reasons why gingival recession happens and gum tissue is lost.

Causes of Gum Recession

What happens exactly? One of the major reasons is the overcrowding of the teeth. When teeth overlap, the gums are pressured and recede. If all the members of the family have the same problem, the gum problem may be hereditary. Another reason is age. Gum problems are some of the things that middle age adults have to deal with. Younger adults, however, are not safe from this phenomenon because of other factors involved.

Over brushing can happen and it could be a cause of gum problems. When a person is too rough with brushing, gums bleed and more gum tissue is lost. A person could have a fragile gum line and suffer more from rough brushing. Choice of toothbrush, together with brushing technique, may be the most simple cause of gum recession.

Inadequate brushing may also cause receding gums. If brushing is not done right, or at all, the gum line suffers from bacterial enzyme build up. Enzymes produced by the mouth to fight off bacteria and those produced by the bacteria result in the damaging of the gums.

An eating disorder may also be the culprit. Gums suffer when a person is bulimic. Besides the loss of nutrients that could benefit teeth, the eating habits or lack thereof may cause imbalance in mouth enzymes. Other lifestyle problems such as smoking or chewing tobacco may cause gum recession.

Treatment Options

The main cause should be dealt with first. Brushing should never be a war against your teeth. Softer bristles are also a must. Once the oral hygiene is improved, gum problems will lessen. Gum problems may just disappear altogether when dental cleaning is done regularly. Tissue grafting can be an option if the damage is too great.

Never ignore the symptoms. Gum recession definitely has warning signs, as it is not something that happens all at once.