Ever looked in the mirror and felt like your teeth looked longer than usual? You may not be imagining it. No, your teeth didn’t suddenly grow-but your gums may be shrinking. Receding gums happen when gums start to pull back from your teeth, exposing more of the tooth. This creates more space for bacteria to latch on to, which can lead to a host of oral health problems.
While a deep cleaning or tissue grafts may be recommended, it’s also important to take the preventative measures below to stop recession from continuing.
• If you smoke, kick the habit. Tobacco use is associated with an increase in harmful mouth bacteria.
• Add healthy foods like crunchy fruits and vegetables into your diet to help reduce plaque buildup.
• Visit us to treat any pre-existing oral health conditions, like crooked teeth and grinding, which can raise the risk of gum recession.
