Can Receding Gums Grow Back?

Receding gum tissue is a pretty common problem that a lot of patients experience, especially older adults. As we age, the tissue around our teeth naturally begins to pull away. Recession can be exacerbated by aggressive brushing, dry mouth, certain medical conditions, and even genetics. As with many dental issues, the most common cause is poor oral hygiene.

It is important to address gum recession as soon as you notice it. Receding gums can lead to a number of other oral health issues that can eventually cause tooth loss.

Can receding gums grow back?

Gum tissue cannot naturally grow back without treatment, though there are steps you can take at home to keep it from getting worse. Practicing good oral hygiene is most important and can really improve the overall health of your teeth and gums. This includes gently brushing your teeth at least twice a day for at least two minutes and flossing at least once a day. It is also vitally important to see your dentist at least twice a year for regular professional cleanings. At these appointments, your dentist will be able to monitor your oral health and diagnose any issues as early as possible.

Between each tooth and the surrounding gum tissue, there are pockets where plaque and bacteria love to accumulate. Healthy gum pockets measure between 0 and 3 millimeters; anything beyond that will likely need some attention. When gum pockets become larger, the gum tissue pulls away from the tooth surface, allowing even more accumulation of plaque and bacteria.

What is the treatment for gum recession?

If you do have gum pockets that measure deeper than 3 millimeters, the first step your dentist may advise is a deep cleaning. A deep cleaning is also called scaling and root planing and is a more specialized type of cleaning that includes local anesthetic, which allows your hygienist to reach as far as necessary below the gum line to clean out plaque and bacterial buildup.

A deep cleaning can greatly improve the overall health of your mouth, but it is important not only to improve your home care after treatment, but to see your dentist more frequently than the typical twice per year. Most deep cleanings take two or three appointments to complete, usually one side of the mouth being treated at a time, followed by a final follow-up visit to fine-tune everything.

Additional Treatment Options For Gum Recession

If a deep cleaning is insufficient for the severity of your particular gum recession, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist for more specialized treatment. A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the treatment of the gums and connective tissues. They can provide treatment such as gum grafting or flap surgery to help heal areas of severe recession.

Grafting is a common treatment that is used to restore a small area of recession. Tissue is harvested from either another area of the patient’s mouth or can be synthetic or donor tissue. The effective area is cleaned, and the new tissue is stitched into place to help encourage healing.

Flap surgery is similar to grafting except additional tissue is not incorporated. For flap surgery, a small incision is made at the affected area; that tissue is flipped back, the area is cleaned, and the bone below is smoothed out. The tissue flap is then secured back in place and allowed to heal.

Even with great oral home care, aging and certain medical conditions can be an unavoidable cause of gum recession. If you notice any recession or are experiencing new sensitivity along the gum line, speak with your dentist so they can determine if any special treatment is necessary.

Related Article: Can You Fix Receding Gums?