While some of the human body’s biological tissues, like skin, will regrow if they are damaged or destroyed, the gums aren’t among these tissues. This means that if your gums recede, they won’t grow back – but it is possible to stop gums from continuing to recede once they have begun to. Even though you can’t regrow gum tissue, it is possible to treat receding gums and prevent them from getting worse, and your dentist is your first line of defense against increasingly receding gums and the issues that accompany this condition.
When the gum tissue recedes, it pulls away from the surface of the tooth, beginning to expose the tooth’s sensitive root and creating small pockets where bacteria can accumulate. These pockets of bacteria encourage additional gum recession and can eventually lead to the loss of the teeth if not addressed; once the teeth are lost, the jawbone will eventually deteriorate as well. The most common causes of receding gums are insufficient dental hygiene, overly aggressive brushing, and aging, though other causes exist as well. While you can’t make your receding gums grow back, you can do several things to prevent them from continuing to recede, and you can also help restore the appearance of receding gums with some cosmetic dentistry procedures.
The first step in keeping the gums from receding is to make an appointment with your dentist. They routinely measure the gum tissue and have benchmark measurements they can use to determine the extent of gum recession and the optimal next steps. If there is bacteria present in the pockets of your gums, you might have a dental deep cleaning procedure, called scaling and root planing, to clean calcified bacteria from beneath the gum line and resurface the teeth to reduce gum inflammation. Following this deep cleaning, many dentists disinfect the area with topical gel or prescription mouthwash. Once bacteria has been removed, inflammation is reduced and the gums can return to their normal, healthy state. Of course, this requires regular maintenance, and your dentist can make sure you know how to care for your teeth and gums gently, effectively, and thoroughly so you can prevent additional bacteria from accumulating and protect your gums from receding more.
In severe cases of gum recession, your dentist might recommend surgery, either to thoroughly clean and remove infection and bacteria or to replace destroyed gum tissue. Some of the more common gum surgeries are flap surgery and tissue grafts. For a flap surgery, the dentist makes a tiny cut in the gums and lifts the tissue up to remove deeply nested plaque and bacteria that can wreak havoc on the bone if left in place. Once the bacteria has been removed, the gum tissue is stitched back in place. Gum graft surgeries use gum tissue from different areas of the mouth to replace gum tissue in the area that’s receding, protecting the tooth and bone from bacterial invasion and damage and improving the appearance of the receding gums. In resin bonding procedures, gum-colored resin can be sculpted over the exposed roots of affected teeth, moderately protecting the root while improving the appearance of the teeth and gum line.