Tag: gum grafting

why gums recede dfw tx

Why Your Gums Are Receding

Posted on | by mel | 7 Comments on Why Your Gums Are Receding

The real reasons that you may not even think of

why gums recede dfw tx

When you have receding gums, it is often an indication that there is a problem. It reveals that your gums are not as healthy as they should be, and your oral health is declining. Healthy gums are necessary to help protect your teeth.

 

Symptoms of Receding Gums

Looking over your gums, there are some easy-to-spot symptoms that will help you know whether or not they are healthy. Some symptoms that reveal that your gums are in the early stages of gum disease include:

  • Bleeding gums 
  • Bright Red Gums
  • Bad Breath
  • Swollen gums
  • Increased sensitivity

 

Why You Should Stop Gum Decay

A receding gum line is often just the early steps to periodontitis. Unless it is treated and action is taken to stop it, it will gradually become worse. With the right conditions, it can quickly become serious. 

Gum decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth that is out of control. Normally, the good bacteria, a healthy diet, and saliva keep it under control. As the bad bacterium multiplies, it produces an acid that starts to work on the gums and teeth. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly can remove the plaque (the bad bacteria) that forms on your teeth.

Without the proper dental care, pockets will begin to form on your gums before long. This provides the perfect hiding place for the bacteria to grow colonies – and produce more acid. This is called periodontitis. As the pockets become larger, it starts to break down the structures that hold your teeth in place, and the bone, and your teeth start to become loose and will eventually fall out. 

As your gums recede, it exposes the roots of your teeth. Prior to receding, the gums offered some protection for the roots, but as they recede, cavities can form on them and they become more sensitive. 

 

Inflammation and Other Disease

Researchers now know that the inflammation caused by gum disease is behind many potentially serious health problems. It can lead to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, a stroke, and many more.

 

Causes of Receding Gums

Before you can start to treat gum disease, you need to know what may be the cause of it. Some causes include:

  • Poor care of your teeth – A lack of regularly brushing your teeth and flossing will lead to gum disease. 
  • Grinding your teeth – If you grind your teeth (bruxism), you have an increased chance of developing gum disease. 
  • Brushing too hard – Brushing vigorously can wear away your gums, leading to gum recession. Using a toothbrush that has hard bristles can do the same thing. 
  • A gum injury – Trauma to your teeth can also help promote gum disease. 
  • Hormonal changes – Changes in the level of female hormones can help gums to be more likely to develop a disease of the gums. 
  • Illnesses – Various diseases can lead to the faster growth of the bacteria that causes gum disease. This includes diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, and leukemia.
  • Genetics – It is possible that your genes may actually make you inclined to gum disease. WebMd says that as much as 30 percent of the population may be in this category, and how well you take care of your teeth may not prevent it.
  • Misaligned teeth – When your teeth are not aligned properly, it makes cleaning them more difficult. This often results in leaving food particles between your teeth – allowing bacteria to multiply and cause decay. 
  • Poor nutrition – Vitamins and minerals are necessary for the strengthening of your teeth and gums. Eating or drinking a lot of sugary foods provides food for the bacteria that causes gum disease. 
  • Obesity – Being overweight makes it harder to control gum disease.
  • Medications – Some medications will cause dry mouth, which encourages bacterial growth.
  • Drug abuse – Drug abuse generally promotes gum disease because the acids in them are strong, and those on drugs rarely take care of their teeth. 

 

Types of Gum Treatment

If you have a mild case of gingivitis, you can probably get rid of it by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing. You will need to do it regularly to succeed.

If you already have pockets forming along the gum line, you will likely need to see a dentist for treatment. Periodontal treatment will be needed to stop it and repair the damage. Remedies include:

  • Non-surgical: medications, scaling and root planing.
  • Surgical: flap reduction surgery, gum grafting, soft tissue grafts, and bone grafting.

 

Preventing Receding Gums

The best way to prevent your gums from receding is to carry out a regular program of brushing for about two minutes at a time – twice a day, and flossing. This will usually eliminate the early stages of gum infection. 

If you are staying in and around Farmers branch , do call our clinic Champion Dental at 214-747-0763 for more information on gum disease treatment, and treatment for receding gums

Gum Grafting: A Solution to Receding Gums

Posted on | by mel | 5 Comments on Gum Grafting: A Solution to Receding Gums

How to Get Your Gums Looking Good Again

When your gums are healthy, it helps to give you a great smile and you will be glad to show it off. If you have receding gums, your teeth will appear longer, making you look older. You may try to hide it because it makes you self-conscious. You can get your gums restored and look younger through a procedure called gum grafting.

 

Why Gums Recede

There are several reasons for gum recession. Knowing what they are can help you find a solution and possibly prevent further recession. Some of the reasons are:

  • Using a toothbrush with hard-bristles
  • Brushing too hard
  • Dentures that do not fit correctly
  • Tobacco use.

The above reasons for gum recession are only some of them. The primary reason is periodontal disease and about half of the adults over 30 have it. This disease is also the main reason why adults lose their teeth.

Gum Disease Is Most Often Behind Receding Gums

Why Gum Recession Is a Problem

When you have gum recession, it indicates that there is a problem – and it tells you that a worse one is on the way. It is bad because it exposes the roots of your teeth. Since they have less enamel on them than the crowns of your teeth, it exposes them to develop cavities quickly. Also, your gums will not grow back, so it will likely become costly to treat them.

The worse problem is that it likely indicates that you have periodontal disease, which is serious gum disease. Although there are several stages, you will need to have it removed by a periodontist as soon as possible. This will help to prevent serious damage. 

 

About Gum Disease

Gum disease starts as gingivitis. This stage is relatively harmless, but your gums will look red and inflamed and you will have bleeding gums when you brush or floss your teeth. If you keep up the habit of good oral hygiene, you can usually get rid of gingivitis by brushing twice a day and flossing. 

If you do not get rid of it, it will become periodontitis. This is when it starts to become nasty. You can no longer get rid of it yourself. It has moved into your gums and you will need the help of a periodontist to eliminate it.

As the bacteria that cause gum disease get into your gums, your immune system will seek to prevent the invasion. In the process, it will also attack your gums, the ligaments that support your teeth, and your jawbone. Over time, it will destroy them and your teeth will become loose and then may fall out. 

 

Eliminating Periodontitis

A procedure called gum grafting or gum graft surgery is the solution you need to reverse receding gums. You will first need to have the bacteria removed from the pockets that have formed on your gums. This procedure is called scaling and root planing and it involves removing the bacteria and inflammation from the pockets. A laser may also be used for this process. 

Gum Graft Surgery

Repairing your gums and giving them a more youthful appearance is often conducted using a gum transplant . The gum graft surgery may be conducted in one of three ways: 

  • Connective tissue grafts – This gum recession treatment involves taking some tissue from the roof of your mouth. The periodontist will first cut a flap in the roof of your mouth and then remove tissue under that layer. The tissue will then be stitched to your gums to cover up the tooth roots, and the flap will be stitched closed. 
  • Free gingival grafts – This procedure is similar to connective tissue grafts except that no flap is cut. Tissue is taken directly from the roof of your mouth and then stitched to cover your tooth roots. When people have thin gums, this method is the one that is preferred. 
  • Pedicle (lateral) grafts – This method of receding gums surgery uses thick gum tissue that is beside the place where it is needed. The tissue is cut from over a neighboring tooth but leaves one side attached. Then, it is pulled over where needed and stitched in place. 

Gum Grafting Can Restore Receding Gums

Another Gum Tissue Source

The best source for obtaining gum tissue is to use the patient’s own tissue. Tissue may also be obtained from a tissue bank, which enables the patient to have one less surgical wound – and less pain during recovery. Some oral surgeons prefer this method. Depending on how many teeth may need their roots covered, the average treatment time is about an hour-and-a-half. 

Recovery

After the gum graft surgery, you will be given special instructions about how to take care of your mouth as it heals. The healing on the gum surface should take a maximum of two weeks, but tissue underneath may take more than a month. After two weeks, you will be able to brush and floss again. A follow-up appointment will be necessary to ensure proper healing. 

Benefits of Gum Grafting

The gum graft procedure has several benefits. They include:

  • It stops gum recession
  • It improves your appearance and smile
  • It protects your tooth roots
  • It reduces tooth sensitivity
  • It gives you a more even gum line
  • It improves your self-confidence

If you have a receding gum line and are interested in learning more about gum grafting, Call Champion Dental office at +1 214-747-0763 for a quick consultation . Most dental insurance plans are accepted.