Why do gums recede and teeth become exposed: what to do and how to treat?

Why do gums recede?

Gum loss, or recession (in scientific terms), is very rarely an independent disease. Usually this is a consequence of other diseases and pathological processes in the body, which in one way or another affect the condition of the oral mucosa. The main reasons that provoke poor circulation, atrophy and gum loss are:

• inflammation of periodontal tissues with accumulation of pus and plaque in periodontal pockets;
• poor hygiene, accompanied by the formation of tartar. Gradually, this leads to drooping of the moving part of the gum;
• mechanical, thermal and chemical injuries;
• errors during orthopedic and orthodontic treatment, due to which the gums are injured;
• improper hygiene;
• malocclusion;
• pathologies of the structure of the mucous membrane (the gums are initially thin and weakened) and/or the cortical layer of the bone is too thin, which impairs blood circulation;
• general diseases of the body that affect blood circulation and the functioning of the immune system;
• old age, when gum atrophy may occur.

Diagnosis of gum recession

First, the doctor will conduct a visual examination and collect anamnesis. This may be enough for a specialist to make a diagnosis. To confirm it, the following studies are additionally prescribed:

• CT scan;
• inoculation of smears taken from the oral cavity to establish pathogenic microflora;
• clinical tests that are aimed at determining mineral deficiency.

Only after a thorough diagnosis will the dentist recommend how to treat the pathology.

Symptoms and forms of the disease

Today, when diagnosing the severity of the disease, the Miller classification is used, which involves 4 stages of gum recession.

• Visually, gum loss is hardly noticeable (or completely unnoticeable) and appears only in the area of ​​​​contact between the tooth and gum.
• The defect appears slightly in the area of ​​contact between the gum and the neck of the tooth (the level of the attached gum decreases by 1-2 mm). The gums between the teeth remain at the same level.
• The gums recede by 3 mm or more. The necks of the teeth are slightly exposed, but the bone level does not decrease. At this stage, the gums often recede and bleed.
• The most severe stage, when the gums recede by 5 mm or more, the roots of the teeth become visible. Mobility of the teeth is observed, which at this stage of the pathology is often generalized and involves several teeth.

At advanced stages, pathology can be noticed visually, especially when the gums on the front teeth recede. If the pathology is at the beginning of its development, a number of additional symptoms help to detect it.

• Inflammatory process, bleeding.
• Formation of periodontal pockets.
• The sensitivity of the enamel has increased.
• The presence of a thick layer of dental plaque.
• Unhealthy whitish tint of gums.

Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis (using modern technologies), so if you have at least one symptom, you should not postpone your visit to the clinic. Of course, everyone is interested in the question of what to do if the gums on a tooth have receded and what treatment should be chosen. There are two directions: therapeutic and surgical. The choice depends on the severity of the pathology and the underlying disease that led to soft tissue atrophy.

Potential Complications

Recession of gingival tissue is an independent disease that requires competent therapy. If left untreated, it can lead to much more serious consequences than a violation of the aesthetics of a smile.

First, food gets clogged into the gaps between the teeth, causing bad breath. Next, inflammation develops, which can be accompanied by severe pain, discharge of pus and loosening of the teeth.

Increased sensitivity and soreness develop in the area of ​​the gum margin, which makes eating difficult.

Teeth and roots are affected by caries. In advanced cases, lack of treatment can lead to the loss of one or several dental units at once.

The easiest way to notice when the gums on the front teeth recede, what to do in this case is well known - sign up for a consultation with dentistry to choose a treatment method.

Therapeutic treatment

Conservative treatment is prescribed in the mildest cases, when it is necessary to stop the inflammatory process and potential gum loss due to periodontal diseases (periodontitis or periodontal disease). Usually, the matter is not limited to one procedure: the doctor prescribes a complex treatment, which may include several techniques.

• Professional cleaning.
  Removal of hard dental plaque is a basic procedure that precedes the main treatment.
• Cleaning periodontal pockets.
  To remove pathogenic microorganisms, the closed curettage technique is used. It can be carried out with standard instruments, as well as with the help of a laser and the Vector device (and its analogues).
• Rehabilitation physiotherapy.
  Used to improve cell health and better restore blood circulation in soft tissues (laser therapy, electrophoresis, current therapy, etc.).
• Taking vitamins
  , antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and preventive therapy.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF GUM RECESSION?

Gum recession can be caused by many factors, and your dentist can help determine the cause.

• Brushing your teeth too vigorously. If you brush your teeth too vigorously, it can damage your tooth enamel and cause gum recession.
• Poor oral hygiene. Without regular brushing and flossing, the plaque that forms on your teeth hardens and turns into tartar. If left untreated, tartar can lead to gum disease and recession.
• Clenching your jaw too tightly causes teeth to grind and puts more strain on your gums. In severe cases, teeth grinding leads to gum recession.
• Smoking. Smoking increases the risk of gum recession.
• Periodontitis. Periodontitis is a serious gum disease in which the gums no longer adhere tightly to the roots of the teeth, resulting in the formation of periodontal pockets. They develop an infection, damaging the tissue and bone that holds the tooth in place. The tooth begins to loosen. Eventually, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss.

Surgery

In case of severe gum loss, the only effective way to restore it is soft tissue surgery. Today, several surgical techniques are actively used.

In case of mechanical damage, receding gums can be raised using classic surgery with sutures. This is only possible if there are no serious injuries that require additional measures. It is important that surgical treatment is also aimed at eliminating visual defects. To deal with the root cause, comprehensive treatment is required, especially in cases where periodontal diseases develop against the background of problems with the functioning of other body systems.

The neck of the tooth under the crown is exposed

Crowns must be replaced periodically; they cannot last for decades. A properly made crown extends a short distance under the gum (from 0.5 to 1 millimeter). This seals the tooth, so that nothing from the oral cavity gets under the crown onto the tooth.

Over time, the gum atrophies, that is, it begins to slide off the crown. When the intensity of this process increases, when the gum is exposed by approximately 1-2 millimeters, the tooth is exposed. It begins to get affected by various infections contained in the oral cavity. This is the cause of the development of various diseases, caries, which provoke exposure of the neck of the tooth.

If the tooth under the crown is alive, the person complains of an irritable reaction when eating hot or cold. As the inflammatory process develops, severe aching pain begins to bother you. In such a situation, it is possible to save the tooth root. To do this, remove the crown. There are also treatment methods in which there is no need to remove it. More detailed advice can be obtained from the clinic doctor.

The gums are receding - what can I rinse with and what ointments should I use?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure gum recession (recession) with home remedies or conservative methods, i.e. with the use of medications. To correct the situation, procedures in a dental clinic are always necessary.

But, since one of the reasons for receding gums is an inflammatory process, the dentist can select anti-inflammatory home care products for the patient. These include medicinal pastes, which can only be used as prescribed by a doctor, as well as gels, ointments, rinses, etc.

Quite often, the following are used to treat inflammation in the oral cavity:

• Cholisal
  is a gel based on choline salicylate, which has an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect that lasts 3-8 hours,
• Metrogyl Denta
  - includes the antibiotic metronidazole and the antiseptic chlorhexidine, especially effective at the initial stage of inflammation,
• Solcoseryl
  - ointment heals wounds, improves nutrition of injured tissues, and is often used after operations in the oral cavity.

Anti-inflammatory rinses work due to chlorhexidine, herbal components (extracts of geranium, sea buckthorn, hawthorn, sage and chamomile) or a combination thereof. There are a lot of such products on the market, and it is best to consult a dentist before purchasing. It is also important to remember that you should not prescribe any medications to yourself - this may not improve the situation, but rather make it worse.

Lack of flush hole: consequences

In the absence of a flushing space, the consequences may be as follows:

• inflammatory processes caused by constant contact of mucous membranes with the prosthesis;
• tissue damage with subsequent exposure to pathogens;
• tissue hypertrophy in the affected areas of soft tissue.

If you look at it from a different angle, the rinsing space provokes the penetration of food into the area between the prosthesis and the mucous membrane. But without this gap, the patient will not be able to provide proper oral care. Plaque can accumulate under the bridge, so this area needs more thorough cleaning.

If the patient notes that food debris has entered the resulting space, this may be caused by incorrect installation of the prosthesis, poor quality of construction, or the development of pathologies of the oral cavity. Normally, this situation should not exist.

Treatment at home

Treatment of gum recession at home is impossible, since in advanced stages of the disease only surgical intervention can correct the situation. It is not possible to get rid of gum recession with ointments, gels and tinctures: at best, they will help cope with inflammation, but they cannot restore the edges of the gums. Anti-inflammatory therapy is used only as an addition to the main treatment. Folk remedies should be used only on the recommendation of a doctor or as a preventive measure. In the absence of pharmaceutical drugs, folk remedies may provide some benefit. A solution based on soda and salt, propolis extract, decoctions of oak bark, juniper and chamomile are just a small part of the folk recipes that can be used for gum diseases.