Receding gums are a serious dental problem that requires intervention in order to fix. It is when the gums start to pull away from the teeth, which causes the roots of the teeth to be exposed. This can lead to that part of the tooth being compromised and more likely to form cavities, develop sensitivity to hot and cold foods, and eventually get gum disease. Here are some things you can do to deal with receding gums.
Get A Deep Dental Cleaning
If you've noticed a problem with receding gums, it is worth visiting your dentist for a formal diagnosis. They'll likely recommend a deep cleaning to get the plaque out of the pockets of your gums so that they can start to recover. A deep cleaning is also referred to as scaling and root planing, and it is something that you definitely cannot do on your own at home.
Care For Your Teeth Every Day
The best thing that you can do on your own is to care for your teeth every single day. This means brushing your teeth in the morning and evening for two full minutes. While brushing you will want to angle the bristles of the toothbrush downward into the gums to clean the plaque that could be trapped in the pockets of your gums. It is also important to floss every single day to remove the plaque that is trapped between your teeth.
Wear A Mouthguard At Night To Stop Grinding
Your teeth may be very tough, but the motion of grinding your teeth on a daily basis can cause the enamel to chip off of your teeth and cause your gums to recede. While this is something that you may not be able to stop yourself from doing while you are sleeping, you can wear a mouthguard at night to prevent you from grinding your teeth. Consider meeting with your dentist about having them create a custom mouthguard for you that is going to be comfortable to wear to encourage you to use it.
Use Light Pressure When Brushing
Be aware that hard brushing is not going to make the tartar on your teeth go away, and can actually cause damage to your teeth and gums. If you are using hard bristles and putting a lot of pressure on your teeth when brushing, it can actually contribute to your gums slowly wearing away. Always use light pressure and soft bristles, and leave the tartar removal to the professionals.
For more information, contact a local dentist.