SYMPTOMS

What is gum recession?

Gum recession, also known as gingival recession, refers to the condition where the gum tissue pulls back from the tooth root. It is a common dental issue. Normally, our teeth are covered by gums, with a crown-to-root ratio of about 1:2 for the exposed tooth. However, factors such as plaque, tartar, inflammation, or trauma can lead to gum recession. The most susceptible area for gum recession is the lower front teeth.
Gum recession can be caused by various factors, including pathological and physiological reasons. Therefore, gum recession does not necessarily indicate an illness.

What are the specific symptoms or effects of gum recession?

After gum recession, the following issues may occur:

• Widened gaps between teeth, making food more likely to get stuck after eating. If not cleaned promptly, this can lead to cavities on the adjacent surfaces or necks of the teeth.

• Exposed tooth roots, causing sensitivity or discomfort when consuming irritating foods or encountering stimuli. In severe cases, it may even lead to pulpitis.

• Lengthened clinical crowns, which, if occurring in the front teeth area (e.g., incisors), can affect appearance.

TREATMENT

How to Alleviate and Manage Gum Recession?

It's important to note that once gum recession occurs, conventional treatments cannot restore the receded gums unless periodontal surgery is performed. What we can do is prevent further recession of pathological gum recession through certain measures. Additionally, physiological gum recession, if minor and uniform, generally does not require treatment. The following methods can help prevent physiological gum recession:

• Professional dental cleaning once or twice a year is the best prevention for inflammatory gum recession.

• Change your brushing technique by brushing along the gum line—downward for upper teeth and upward for lower teeth—and use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head.

• Avoid chewing on one side only.
  Note: Pathological gum recession usually requires medical treatment. Combining treatment with improved lifestyle habits can help stop the progression of recession.
  Pathological gum recession deserves serious attention, as it is often accompanied by bone loss around the teeth. Severe bone loss, like soil erosion around a tree, can lead to tooth loosening and eventual loss.
  Therefore, address pathological gum recession promptly to prevent worsening.

DIAGNOSIS

When Should You Seek Medical Attention for Gum Recession?

Note: If gum recession is caused by pathological factors, prompt medical attention is necessary. How to determine if it's pathological? Consider the following conditions:

• Visible tartar in the mouth—the easiest area to self-check is the lingual side of the lower front teeth. If yellow, brown, or even black hard deposits protruding from the tooth surface are found, seek medical attention immediately.

• Bleeding while brushing teeth or even spontaneous bleeding.

• Accompanied by loose teeth.

• Accompanied by swollen or red gums.

POTENTIAL DISEASES

What are the possible causes of gum recession?

Gum recession can be attributed to pathological or physiological causes.

• Physiological causes: Often due to progressive gum atrophy with age, not accompanied by symptoms like gum bleeding, redness, tooth looseness, or unclean tooth surfaces.

• Common pathological causes:

  • Inflammatory: Mainly caused by dental calculus near the gum line, where bacteria thrive, irritating the gums and leading to recession and alveolar bone resorption.

  • Mechanical irritation: Common in people who brush horizontally or against the gum growth direction, as repeated mechanical irritation causes gum recession. Especially in horizontal brushers, "wedge-shaped defects" may appear near the gum line, accompanied by sensitivity to hot or cold stimuli.

  • Additionally, long-term unilateral chewing can lead to gum recession on the unused side due to lack of chewing stimulation.

  • Teeth with poorly fitted restorations are prone to localized gum recession on a single tooth.