Receding gums are definitely no laughing matter.  The symptoms of receding gums can be as simple as bad breath or gum bleeding, or as serious as an increased risk of cavities or exposed roots of teeth.  Here are the ten most likely causes of this condition.

1. Not brushing well enough

If you do a poor job of brushing and flossing, the bacteria build up between the teeth will grow, causing damage all around the mouth and encouraging the condition of receding gums.  It is key to brush twice a day, making sure to floss, as well!

2. Brushing too vigorously

At the same time, if you take it to the other extreme and brush very aggressively, you can also cause damage and cause receding gums.  That’s because aggressive brushing can wear on the enamel at the gum line, which is a definite way to cause receding gums.

3. Some eating disorders

Another cause can be eating disorders which involve vomiting frequently.  The constant presence of traces of vomit is definitely not good for the health of your gums, which makes this an overlooked cause of receding gums.

4. Chewing tobacco

Chewing tobacco can lead to a large number of oral problems, one of which is receding gums.  The mucus membrane and gum linings are worn down over time from this dangerous habit, which can cause trouble over a period of time.

5. Habits such as teeth grinding

If you have a habit of grinding your teeth, whether you do it absent-mindedly or when stressed out, you should definitely try to get out of it.  Besides being unhealthy for your teeth, you can also affect your gums in the long term if you can’t stop grinding your teeth regularly.

6. The toothpaste that you use

For the vast majority of people, basically any type of popular toothpaste can be used without any issues whatsoever.  However, if you are one of the unlucky few who are sensitive to sodium lauryl sulfate, you may suffer gum damage from using toothpastes that include this ingredient.

7. Piercings in the mouth

Over time, a piercing in the lip area can wear down the gums, which leads to them eventually receding.  You may believe that you are safe because you do not feel any discomfort, but the process is gradual and usually painless.  It is still something to worry about, though.

8. Periodontal disease

One of the many unfortunate risks of periodontal disease involves an increased chance of receding gums.  Periodontal disease should be treated properly and as soon as possible.

9. Improper growth of teeth

This is not something that can be easily controlled, but if adult teeth do not grow out of the gums properly, it can cause problems down the line.  A simple orthodontic procedure can correct this issue, though.

10. Regular movement of the teeth

Another thing that can’t be controlled easily is the normal movement of teeth, which is usually not noticeable but occasionally can cause gum problems under certain conditions.
As you can see, there are a number of ways that receding gums can be caused.  The best thing to do is to make sure you are not encouraging the condition with any of the behaviors listed here, and getting regular checkups to make sure that the elements out of your control are not going awry.

Receding gums identify that the sufferer may also be at one of the stages of periodontal disease (periodontitis). How can you stop receding gum? There are various remedies for gum recession, and the most powerful (as well as the most expensive) of them is gum surgery. Most people don’t like the idea of a surgery, and the cost of any surgery often puts an end to even considering it as a treatment option. Most people are looking for simple and cost-efficient steps that can be taken to improve the state of their gums. Below you can see the five main options:

1. Brush your teeth, but be gentle and use a soft-bristle brush. Even though brushing your teeth is good, overdoing it is bad. Two out of three people brush aggressively with hard bristles, which results in the scrubbing away of the delicate gum tissue. Moreover, mouthwashes and toothpastes that contain harsh chemicals may worsen the situation and irritate your gum line.

2. Floss properly. The proper way to floss is in the “c pattern”, moving the floss along the contours of your teeth, rather than forcefully pulling the floss up and down. If you notice that your gums bleed, this could be an early warning sign that you are flossing improperly, or that you have additional periodontal problems. You need to keep flossing, even if you see some bleeding. However, you need to be even more careful with flossing when you see bleeding. Flossing after meals counts the most, as it helps to remove the food particles from the gum line and between the teeth.

3. Adding vitamins and having a healthy diet. Vitamin C and Coenzyme Q10 are known to rejuvenate the gums. It’s a good idea to lessen the intake of sugar and sweets, and to add more whole foods into your diet. It might also be a good idea to rinse your mouth or floss particularly after eating sticky sweets.

4. Regularly see your dentist. Your dentist can remove the plaque, which is known to be one of the main contributors to receding of the gums. Moreover, after your doctor assesses the situation, he/she will make accurate recommendations to stop receding gum.

5. Control bacteria and microbes. The most important aspect in fighting gum disease is killing bacteria, which is actually the root of periodontal diseases. If you don’t control bacteria, then your gums are very likely to continue their receding. You can control bacteria with proper oral care and regular visits to your dentist (scaling and root planning).

How to stop gums receding? The first step is finding and eliminating any conditions that may be causing the breakdown of the gum tissue, since receding gums are generally an outcome, and not a culprit. One of the diseases that are known to often cause the gums to start receding is gingivitis. Not only may gingivitis cause receding gums in the long run, but in some cases these two conditions may go hand in hand for years, with receding gums staying undetected due to the swelling of the gums caused by gingivitis.

Untreated gingivitis (failure to remove plaque and tartar) often causes periodontitis, which in its turn may cause complications in the form of receding gums and other issues. Thus, it’s very important to start treating these dental disorders at their earliest stages.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums that affects the mucosal gum tissue, which surrounds and supports the teeth and covers the alveolar bone. The symptoms of this disease include: inflammation, soreness, swelling, and bleeding of the gum lines. Most often gingivitis is caused by a permanent build-up of dental plaque, tarter, and food particles on the teeth. Therefore, in order to improve the state of gingivitis, plaque build-up needs to be removed daily.

Treatment for gingivitis is similar to receding gum treatment, since these gum conditions have a lot in common. One of the first steps to undertake in order to stop gums receding is to commit to proper dental care. The special feature of receding gum lines is that proper oral care does not only mean regular brushing and flossing of your teeth, but also means brushing and flossing the right way.

The proper way is brushing your teeth with a soft toothbrush in circular motions, being careful not to press too hard on your toothbrush while brushing. Moreover, you need to make sure that you are not brushing in large moves from top to bottom. Proper flossing is gently guiding the floss around each side of your tooth, and around the gum line, ensuring that you are not experiencing any unpleasant sensations within this process. If you particularly notice the lack of the gum tissue around a few of your top front teeth, it’s often an indication of overly vigorous brushing and/or flossing techniques, which need to be altered.

It’s also a good idea to start using a good mouthwash (Listerine, Oraldene) once per day, and to start chewing a sugar free gum, which will keep you salivating, helping to cleanse your teeth.

Receding gumline is one of the few most notable “recessions” related to aging and genetics. The other noticeable recession that many people experience as they age is receding hairline. Receding hairline is more common in men, it can hardly be stopped or prevented, and it does not bear any danger to the general health of a human being. Receding gum line, on the other hand, is equally common for both sexes, it possesses a threat to the overall health of the sufferer, and there are ways to prevent your gumlines from receding.

First of all, the prevalence of this gum condition in older people indicates its tight connection to aging. Secondly, multiple cases of receded gums in younger people indicate that this condition is also related to genetics. And thirdly, the prevalence of this disorder in the people who do not practice proper oral hygiene indicates that it can also be linked to improper dental hygiene.

Improper oral hygiene does not always mean insufficient hygiene. In fact, overly aggressive brushing and flossing can also often become the culprit of a receding gumline. Aggressive brushing of the teeth mechanically pushes the mucous tissue further away, exposing the roots of the teeth. Moreover, it is believed that vigorous brushing and flossing causes the gums to “attempt” to pull away from the painful sensations, further exposing the roots.

We cannot stop the aging processes in our bodies or change our genetics, but we can learn about proper oral care and start incorporating it. Dentists advise us to brush our teeth gently with a mild toothbrush, twice a day every day. It’s also important to carefully floss twice a day, and avoid causing pain or discomfort to your gums in the process.

There are people who do maintain proper oral hygiene, and yet they develop a receding gum line. In this case, receded gums may be an indication of other oral diseases that affect the gum tissue, which one may simply not be aware of. Periodontal diseases (bacterial infection that commonly destroys the jaw bone and affects the gums) often first warn about themselves as receding gums, bleeding or puffy gums, and tooth decay. The best way to proceed in this case is to pay a visit to your dentist, who will be able to consult with you about the proper treatment for any underlying periodontal disease.

Proper oral hygiene and taking care of any oral diseases as they come will help you to prevent a receding gum line, and to improve its existing condition.

When it comes to receding gums, prevention really is the key. The fact of the matter is that once gums have already begun to recede, it is often for a plethora of reasons, and getting to the bottom of the mystery can be difficult, even with the best dental care money (and lots of insurance) can buy. As receding gums tend to be the primary symptom of numerous dental problems, some serious, others not so much, preventing them from occurring in the first place is always the way to go whenever it is feasible. If you are concerned about this very common problem, you are probably wondering how to prevent receding gums.

The answer is simple, straight forward, and often difficult for people to commit to. The fact is that the only way to effectively prevent receding gums is to embark on a dedicated and concerted regimen of oral health. In other words, in order to prevent receding gums, keeping your mouth healthy is a must. There are numerous ways to ensure that our mouths remain as healthy as possible, and chances are you are familiar with them already. Such basic hygiene practices as brushing and flossing are crucial. Additionally, it is imperative to incorporate an antiseptic mouthwash into your oral care routine, as it inhibits the growth of and even kills by the millions some of the harmful bacteria that contribute to receding gums and poor oral health.

When considering how to prevent receding gums, one must also recognize that receding gums are often a symptom rather than a condition in and of themselves. This means that other, larger dental health concerns such as gingivitis and periodontal disease must also be prevented at all costs. Fortunately, preventing these conditions is done in the same manner as preventing receding gums – meaning that as long as you are truly dedicated to your oral health, you should be able to keep these problems at bay as well.

Finally, one key component to maintaining great oral health is to have regular (at least twice per year) professional dental checkups. Only your dentist can take x-rays, clean tartar below the gum line, and catch small problems before they snowball. The fact is that professional dental care is an integral and necessary part of maintaining your overall dental heath, meaning that ignoring professional cleanings and checkups can actually undo all of the progress you may have made by being diligent in your personal dental hygiene.

If you have recently begun to notice some of the tell tale signs of receding gums, such as the appearance that your teeth have become longer or skinnier, or apparent notches on your teeth along the gum line (in many cases these notches cannot be seen, but can be felt with the tongue), or even the appearance of unsightly cavities at or below the gum line, you probably want to know how to stop gums receding.  Fortunately, there are things that you can do to slow the progression of receding gums. In some cases, it may even be possible to reverse the damage.

So, how to stop gums from receding? Well, the specifics really depend upon the specific case, as receding gums are often tied to numerous other dental conditions. If it is determined that your case of receding gums is a symptom of a bigger dental problem, then it is always essential to treat that problem first. The fact is that you cannot treat the symptom of a problem without addressing the problem itself. For example, if you are experiencing bleeding of your gums when you brush your teeth, along with your receding gums, you are probably suffering from gingivitis. In many cases, gingivitis can cause or contribute to receding gums.

Regardless of what underlying dental health conditions may be discovered when you are figuring out how to stop gums receding, one great way to improve your gums overall condition is to simply practice good dental hygiene habits, such as brushing, flossing and rinsing. While these practices are seemingly obvious, many people sorely neglect their dental health, which is why receding gums are such an epidemic in the first place. Taking simple steps to improve the way you care for your teeth and mouth can often have a huge impact on problems such as receding gums, especially over time.

Finally, while you may be able to stop the progression of receding gums on your own, it is virtually impossible to re-grow gum tissue without professional dental intervention. Meaning: get to a dentist if you suspect a dental problem. Delaying your visit to the dentist can only hinder the progress you make regarding the receding of your gums, and it can allow the problem to snowball. In fact, most cases of receding gums stem from an initial refusal to seek out regular dental care. Do not allow your dental negligence to cause you more dental problems than it has already.

Can you prevent receding gums, or are they inevitable? Even though receding gums are an age-related disorder, there are ways to prevent and to slow down its onset by utilizing some easy dental care techniques.

The majority of people on earth have probably at least once heard the term “proper dental care”. The sad fact is that many people don’t know what proper dental care really is. There are several compounds of proper oral care, and each one of them is important for the overall health of your teeth and gums.

Toothbrush

The toothbrush that you use needs to have soft bristles. It’s very important to stop using brushes with hard bristles, once and for all. Moreover, if you suspect that you may be applying too much pressure when you brush your teeth (e.g., if your teeth always bleed when you brush them), you may want to purchase an electric brush that will help you to control the pressure that you apply by automatically switching off with the use of excessive pressure.

Toothpaste

There are hundreds of toothpastes available on the market, and some of them are better than others. People who want to prevent receding gums need to be especially careful with the ingredients of the toothpaste that they use. For instance, an ingredient called Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, found in most toothpaste, is known to be very detrimental to the delicate gum tissue.

Floss

Many people note bleeding when they floss, and this is a bad sign. This may not only be a sign of gum disease, but this can also be a symptom of overly aggressive flossing. You need to be very gentle at the time of flossing, making sure that you are not damaging your gum tissues.

Mouthwash

Similar to toothpastes, there are numerous mouthwashes available on the market. First of all, if you are looking for toothpaste for a younger person, it’s important to opt for a rinse that does not contain alcohol, such as Crest Pro Health. It’s a good idea to rinse your mouth with a rinse after every meal, or at least after each time you brush your teeth. Swish the liquid in your mouth for about 30 seconds and then spit it out.

Dental Check-Ups

Regular check-ups are a must for dental care aimed at the prevention of receding gums. Not only will your dentist help you to spot any signs of problems early, but he/she will also clean the plaque and tartar from your teeth, which are the major causes of receding gums.

Receeding gums can be a serious oral health problem, and they probably occur far more frequently than you realize.  Unfortunately, once the process has begun, it is often very difficult (if not impossible) to reverse.  This is due to the fact that receeding gums are often simply a symptom of one or more serious oral health problems, such as periodontal disease or gingivitis.  The fact of the matter is that receeding gums are often the result of years of oral health issues and dental neglect.  For this reason, it is often possible to prevent receeding gums before they ever become a problem. 

Quite simply, the best way to stop receeding gums is through a regimen of properly executed oral health practices.  This includes the basics such as daily brushing and flossing, regular usage of antibacterial mouthwash, and regular dental visits.  As obvious as good oral hygiene practices may seem, many people simply ignore their oral health to the point that their teeth can’t be salvaged.  To prevent this from happening to you, start taking care of your mouth now.  Even if you have been neglecting your teeth for years, no harm can come from implementing good oral health practices now.

It is important to keep in mind that you can go too far when taking care of your teeth.  One of the leading causes of receeding gums is actually brushing your teeth too hard.  Meaning that utilizing the proper technique when brushing your teeth can actually have as much of an impact on your oral heath as the frequency in which you brush your teeth.  Most dentists and other oral health professionals recommend that when brushing your teeth, you hold the toothbrush so that the bristles rest on your teeth at a 45 degree angle and that you gently brush away from the gums, attempting to sweep debris out of an away from the gums.  Additionally, in order to effectively prevent receeding gums, thorough daily flossing is essential.

There are additional numerous things that you can do to prevent oral health issues that can lead to receeding gums.  Virtually all of them are related to maintaining good overall oral health.  The single best way to ensure that you have good oral health is to visit your dentist regularly, or at least twice per year.  Regular dental checkups can ensure that you can address any of the underlying causes of receeding gums before they snowball.