Gum Recession: Causes and Treatment

Gum recession occurs when the gum tissue pulls away from teeth. This dental problem can expose the tooth roots and leave the bone and gum structure prone to further infection. Over time, gum recession loosens permanent teeth and leads to tooth loss. Many patients with gum recession have gum disease or may have personal habits that affect the gums. Here you can discover causes and treatments for gum recession in Plano, TX.

What Causes Gum Recession?

Gum disease, or periodontitis, is a common dental problem caused by a bacterial infection. Bacteria in the mouth feed on food particles and debris left in the mouth. The harmful bacteria create digestive acids that eat away at the soft gum tissue. Gum disease

Additionally, patients who brush their teeth aggressively may deal with gum recession. Patients who use too much force when they brush and floss can damage their gum tissue. Smoking and tobacco products also increase the likelihood of gum recession because of nicotine. Nicotine use produces plaque and tartar that irritate the gum tissue and oftentimes leads to gum disease. Additionally, genetics can also impact gum recession. Patients with thin gum tissue may also be more prone to recession after an injury or even brushing.

Treat Gum Recession in Plano, TX

Before treating receded gums, we thoroughly clean the teeth and gums. A deep cleaning treatment is especially important if patients have gum recession because of gum disease. Our hygienists can remove plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth and gums. Plaque is a sticky bacterial film that hardens to form tartar and calculus.

One of the best options to treat gum recession is gum grafting. Grafting takes healthy gum tissue from another part of the mouth. Gum grafting can use specialized dental tools or even dental lasers to make incisions in the gums. We use laser dentistry that does not require sutures or stitches to treat the gum tissue. Dental lasers are safe and efficient treatment methods that also promote new gum growth.

Our office also uses Emdogain™ technology, which is a bioactive material that we apply to the tooth roots. This material stimulates the cells in the gums to stimulate gum regeneration. Using laser dentistry and Emdogain helps patients regrow healthy gum tissue in addition to treating gum recession.

Do you have receding gums? Contact our office and we will help you keep track of your tooth and gum health. Call Dr. Mark Sowell for high-quality preventative and restorative care today at (972) 382-6855. You may also request a dental consultation on our website. Please let us know if you have any current dental concerns in addition to gum recession and we can help. You may also ask us any questions about treatment.