You noticed it in the mirror. Your teeth look longer than they used to. Or maybe you felt it — a zing of sensitivity when you drank something cold.
Your gums are receding. It is not cosmetic. It is a structural problem that gets worse if left alone.
What Gum Recession Actually Is
Gum recession means the gum tissue that surrounds your teeth has pulled away from the tooth surface. This exposes the root beneath.
The root does not have the same protective enamel layer the crown of your tooth has. That is why exposed roots feel so sensitive — and why they are at higher risk of decay.
Why It Happens: The Usual Suspects
Aggressive brushing. You can brush too hard. Using a hard-bristled brush or scrubbing back and forth wears down the gum tissue. Think gentle circles, not scrubbing.
Gum disease. This is the most common cause. Plaque and tartar cause the gums to become inflamed. The inflammation breaks down the tissue and bone that hold your gums in place.
Grinding and clenching. Excess pressure on the teeth puts force on the gum margin, contributing to recession over time.
Smoking and tobacco use. Tobacco causes gum tissue damage and impairs healing. Smokers often have more severe recession than non-smokers.
Genetics. Some people are simply more predisposed to thin gum tissue that recedes more easily.
The Danger of Ignoring It
Mild recession can feel like nothing more than cosmetic — your teeth look a little longer, a little more yellow at the root. But it does not stay mild.
As the gum continues to recede, the bone beneath it is lost. Bone loss is permanent. You cannot regrow the support structure of your teeth once it's gone.
Teeth become loose. Gaps form. Infections develop. The only solutions at that stage are surgery or extraction.
What Treatment Looks Like
Early stage: A deep clean (scaling and root planing) removes bacteria below the gum line and allows the tissue to reattach.
Moderate recession: Pinhole surgery or gum grafting — taking tissue from elsewhere in your mouth and attaching it to the receded area.
Advanced: Regeneration procedures to rebuild lost bone and tissue — more complex, more expensive, less predictable.
How to Slow It Down — Starting Today
- Switch to a soft-bristled brush and use gentle circular motions
- Floss daily — bacteria below the gum line is what drives recession
- Address teeth grinding with a night guard
- Quit smoking
- Come in for an assessment — the earlier we catch it, the more we can save
Gum recession is not something you can manage with better brushing alone. It requires a professional assessment of what's driving it and targeted treatment to stop it.
At Meads Village Dental Practice, we offer gum grafting and recession treatment. The goal is always to stop the progression and restore what's been lost where possible.
Call 01323 723757 or book at www.meadsdental.com