How to prevent Gum Recession

The Most Common Causes of Gum Recession

At Tarzana Dental, we understand that the first step to treating gum recession in Los Angeles is diagnosis. There is no one cause of receding gums, and it is important to understand exactly what factors are contributing to your gum recession in order to fully fix the issue. Although gum disease is often a primary factor in many cases, this is always fairly easy to spot and may not necessarily be what's causing your gums to recede.

Your personal habits, the way you brush your teeth and even your genes could also be contributing to the problem. Some people are genetically predisposed to having thinner gums, in which case they need to be extra careful when brushing their teeth to avoid causing their gums to recede. Similarly, people with overcrowded, crooked or otherwise misaligned teeth also tend to suffer more from receding gums.

The problem also could be related to your lifestyle and habits. Brushing your teeth improperly, too roughly or with too hard of a toothbrush can quickly cause the gums to begin receding. Grinding or clinching your teeth while you sleep or chewing on pens, biting your fingernails or sticking any other foreign objects in your mouth can also worsen the problem. At Tarzana Dental, our specialists in gum recession in Los Angeles will help you to diagnose the causes of your receding gums and then suggest ways that you can help to prevent the problem from worsening.

How to Prevent Gum Recession

Proper oral hygiene is one of the biggest keys to preventing your gums from receding. When patients come us to seek treatment for their gum recession in Los Angeles, one of the very first things we focus on is making sure that they know the proper way to brush and floss their teeth. Anyone with a propensity for gum recession in Los Angeles needs to know how to brush carefully in order to fully clean their teeth and gums without worsening the problem. You also need to be aware of the importance of using a soft-bristled toothbrush, as both medium- and hard-bristled brushes are far too stiff and can damage the gums and cause them to recede further.

Having your teeth cleaned at least once every three to six months is another easy way to prevent gum recession in Los Angeles. No matter how diligent you are about brushing and flossing, tartar will eventually start to build up under your gums over time and thus cause them to start receding. If you grind your teeth or clench your jaw while sleeping, our Los Angeles gum recession specialists can also create a custom mouth guard for you to wear at night to help reduce stress on your teeth and hopefully prevent your gums from receding further.

In cases where your teeth are misaligned, crooked or overcrowded, it may be necessary for you to undergo orthodontic treatment in order to correct the underlying problems contributing to your gum recession. Similarly, you may also need to have your bite adjusted if your Los Angeles gum recession specialists determine that an improper bite is contributing to your issues. In more extreme cases, gum grafting can be used to increase the amount of visible gum tissue and help to fully cover your roots and teeth.

Preventing gum recession usually isn't all that difficult, and in many cases, all it takes is paying closer attention to your oral hygiene and making sure to schedule regular appointments to see your dentist in Reseda, CA. However, the only way to know what's causing your gums to recede and thus prevent the problem from worsening is to see a Los Angeles gum recession specialist. If you're sick of staring at your receding gums in the mirror, you definitely need to contact Tarzana Dental and see how our Los Angeles gum recession specialists can help you overcome your issues once and for all.