Hiding Your Smile Because of Receding Gums? We Have a Better Solution
Have you ever heard someone talk about someone older saying they’re “long in the tooth”?
It might not be as common today as it was in previous generations, but it’s still used, and the reason for it is rather interesting: receding gums.
For generations, it was thought that gum recession (gingival recession) was simply something that happened as a person ages – that it’s inevitable.
Thankfully, modern dentists know better – there’s something you can do to arrest gum recession.
What Causes Receding Gums?
Before diving into how your dentist can fix gum recession, you need to know what causes it. Understanding the cause helps you reduce your likelihood of dealing with receding gums down the road.
Common causes of gum recession are:
- Using a hard-bristled toothbrush
- Brushing your teeth and gums too hard
- Untreated gum disease
- Poor dental home care
- Genetics
- Hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause)
- Use of tobacco products
- Misaligned bite and crooked teeth
- Bruxism (clenching and grinding your teeth)
Talk to your Carmel dentist about steps you can take to reduce or eliminate your risk of developing gingival recession.
How Your Carmel Dentist Can Treat Gum Recession
If you do develop recession, don’t despair! Your dentist can help with a procedure called gingival grafting.
During this procedure, your dentist removes a small amount of tissue from your hard palate and grafts it to the gingival tissue where you’re experiencing recession. In some cases, your dentist will use donor tissue.
The benefits of grafting are:
- It strengthens the gum tissue, thereby stabilizing the teeth
- It can protect against further recession
- Since it eliminates root surface exposure, tooth sensitivity is minimized
- Grafting can reduce the “long in the tooth” look, giving you more confidence to share your smile with the world.
We Can Help You Get a Healthy, Beautiful Smile
Dr. Alex Balaban has devoted the past 15 years to helping his patients attain beautiful smiles. He wants to help you do the same thing. Schedule your appointment today to find out what steps you can take – and how your dental team can help you – to achieve a healthy, gorgeous smile and keep it for years to come.
Ready to do something about your receding gums? Contact our team at 317-575-1995 to schedule a graft treatment consultation.
Posted In:
Dental Visit
Cosmetic Dentistry
Healthy Gums
Gums
Swollen Gums
Sore Gums
Oral Hygiene
Receding Gums
