Can Receding Gums Grow Back?

Receding gums are a condition that happens as we age. Many patients experience some degree of gum recession due to aging and genetics, but it can be worsened by overly aggressive brushing, dry mouth, and even certain medications. Receding gums can lead to a number of other oral health issues, so it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible.

Can gum tissue grow back naturally?

While it is normal for gums to recede slightly as you age, the most common cause of gum recession is poor oral hygiene. Practicing good oral hygiene is the best way to improve and maintain the overall health of your mouth. It is important to receive treatment for any issues as soon as they come up. Gum tissue will not heal itself and requires intervention by a dental professional.

Recession happens when the pocket between the gum tissue and the tooth becomes infected with tartar and bacteria. As that area becomes inflamed, the gum tissue actually begins to pull away from the surface of the tooth, exposing sensitive tooth roots and often causing discomfort. Treatment for gum recession cleans the gum pockets of infection, allowing the gum tissue to heal closer to the tooth surface. Severe gum recession may require additional treatment from a periodontist.

Do I need treatment for gum recession?

Even if recession is minor and not impacting your daily life, it is important to address the issue so that it does not get worse. Minor recession can usually be treated with a deep cleaning and improved oral hygiene. Left untreated, more severe dental issues will arise, such as exposed tooth roots, bone loss, and even tooth loss.

How is gum recession treated?

When caught early, a deep cleaning may be all that is needed to get the gums back to a healthy state. A deep cleaning is a bit more involved than your typical preventative cleaning because the gum tissue in the area being worked on is numbed with a local anesthetic so that your hygienist can reach below the line and into those gum pockets to clear up any tartar and bacteria.

If recession is more severe, you may be referred to a periodontist for specialized treatment. A periodontist uses laser therapy as well as minor surgery to eradicate infection. They can also place a gum graft in areas where necessary. Grafting is a common treatment that is used to restore a small area of recession. Tissue is harvested from either another area of the patient’s mouth or can be synthetic or donor tissue. The effective area is cleaned, and the new tissue is stitched into place to help encourage healing.

Flap surgery is similar to grafting except additional tissue is not incorporated. For flap surgery, a small incision is made at the affected area; the tissue is flapped back, the area is cleaned, and the bone below is smoothed out. The tissue flap is then secured back in place and allowed to heal.

Good oral hygiene is the best way to prevent any dental issues. The health of your mouth is greatly related to your overall systemic health, so it is important to treat any problems as soon as they arise.

Related Article: Can You Fix Receding Gums?