Gum Recession

At Elkhart Periodontics, we commonly have patients that are struggling with gum recession. Gum recession, or gingival recession, is the accelerating loss of gum tissue in the mouth. Thinning gums may create a look of your teeth becoming longer. For most patients, this is not cosmetically pleasing. Besides the appearance aspect, thinning gums can cause germs and bacteria to grow between the soft and hard tissue in your mouth. 

If you’re experiencing symptoms of gum recession, you may be curious to the how and why of how this issue started for you. While this is a commonly spread oral issue that periodontists deal with daily, some patients may be more prone to the problem. Here are some common causes that lead to receding gums

• Lack of oral hygiene
  • If you are someone who is lacking proper dental hygiene, you may be more likely to run into the issue of gum recession. An absence of flossing or brushing can generate plaque build up. If plaque is not handled, it can erode bone and even cause infections.
• Overbrushing
  • While it is critical to implement good dental hygiene, it is important to remember aggressive brushing can cause more damage than good. If you are someone who brushes your teeth too roughly, it can inflame the gums or corrode the tooth at the gum line. 
• Chewing Tobacco
  • As we know, tobacco is destructive to the human body. Chewing tobacco can be detrimental and even irreversible to your mouth’s oral health. Not only can it cause oral cancer, but it can severely destroy the lining of the gums. 
• Periodontal Disease
  • While this disease is a gradual process, catching it sooner than later can prevent many oral health issues down the road. Periodontal disease can be caused from a slew of actions, however, if not treated, it can result in gum disease and even tooth loss. 

Get your smile glowing again! Elkhart Periodontics can bring your gums back to health by performing either gum grafting or soft tissue grafting. If you’re interested in learning more about gum recession and the steps you can take to halt it, give us a call at (574) 266-6107.