Reasons Gums Start to Recede

If you’ve noticed that you seem to see more of your teeth than you once did, it’s because your gums have receded. When gums pull away from your teeth, it can create open pockets around them that quickly fill with bacteria and other debris.

It can be impossible to get your toothbrush down into these pockets, so the bacteria grows and infects the area. But why have your gums started to recede? There are a number of different reasons.

You Grind Your Teeth

Grinding your teeth at night is a condition known as bruxism, and it can cause your gums to recede. Bruxism can also cause your teeth to crack or break, so it’s a condition that needs to be dealt with. Sometimes, it’s because you’re under a lot of stress, and dealing with that stress will result in less teeth-grinding. Other times, you may need to look at tools such as a mouthguard to help stop grinding your teeth while you sleep.

Incorrect Brushing Techniques or Irregular Brushing

If you don’t brush your teeth correctly, you can injure your gums to the point that they begin receding. Not brushing and flossing regularly can lead to gingivitis, which involved receding gums. If you brush your teeth really hard or aggressively, you can also damage the gums and make them recede.

Injuries

Any injury to the mouth can damage your gums and teeth, leading to receding gums. This doesn’t always happen right away, though, which is why you need to be sure you come in for a follow-up visit or two any time you’ve had an injury that affects your mouth.

Genetics

Finally, if your parents have recurring receding gums, it may actually be a genetic issue. Sadly, there’s not always a lot that can be done for this other than treat the symptoms whenever they occur.

Do you have receding gums? If so, contact us today to set up an appointment to treat the condition.