Of all of the oral health issues that can age a person beyond their years, receeding gum tissue is probably at the top of the list.  The fact of the matter is that there are numerous factors that can cause your gum tissue to recede.  And once the process has begun, it is fairly difficult to reverse or even stop the process.  One of the best ways to ensure that your gums stay healthy is to be diligent in your dental checkups, as dentists can often detect the issue much sooner than a lay person could with the naked eye.

Most cases of receding gum tissue are diagnosed and/or spotted when people are in their forties.  However, it has been estimated that the problem generally begins much earlier than that, sometimes even in the teens. Left unchecked for decades, it is not surprising that receeding gums can do a lot of damage and be virtually irreversible.  In cases where dentists and/or oral surgeons are able to fix the damage, it is generally a costly and potentially very painful process.  Depending on your dental insurance, you may be looking at a huge out of pocket expense. 

So, how do you know if you may have receeding gum tissue?  Some of the earliest signs are also the easiest to overlook.  For example, you may develop tooth sensitivity.  Of course, this can happen over time even if your gums don’t begin to recede, which means that many people tend to ignore tooth sensitivity as a sign of their gums receeding and simply chalk it up to aging.   Another common symptom of receding gums is that your teeth appear to elongate.  Of course, this is not really the case.  What actually happens is that more of your tooth becomes visible as your gum tissue lessens, making your teeth appear longer.  Another sure sign that your gums are receeding is that you begin to notice that your teeth feel notched at the gum line; this is simply due to new tooth exposure resulting from gums falling away.

If you fear that you may be suffering from receding gum tissue, you should be proactive.  Namely, seek professional dental care.  Only a dentist or Periodontist can diagnose receding gums.  Additionally, receding gums are often accompanied by one or more other oral health conditions, such as gingivitis, that need to be addressed before receeding gums themselves can be addressed and potentially resolved.

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