gum recession Archives - Lane & Associates

Posted on May 6, 2025May 7, 2025

Gum recession is a common concern for many people and can be alarming when it starts to happen. It may make your teeth appear longer, create sensitivity, or even put your dental health at risk if left unaddressed. If you’ve noticed your gums receding, you might wonder, “Can gums grow back after receding?”

The short answer is no, gums do not naturally grow back once they have receded. However, there are effective steps you can take to prevent further recession and treatments to restore your gum health. By understanding the causes, prevention, and solutions for gum recession, you can better care for your smile and avoid future issues.

What Causes Gum Recession?

Receding gums don’t happen overnight. There are various factors that can lead to this condition, including lifestyle habits and oral health issues. Identifying the cause is often crucial for finding the right solution.

Common Causes of Gum Recession

Gum Disease: One of the most common causes of gum recession is periodontal (gum) disease. This bacterial infection damages the gums and supporting structures, gradually causing them to pull away from the teeth.
Aggressive Brushing: Brushing too hard or using a toothbrush with stiff bristles can wear away your enamel and irritate your gums, leading to recession over time.
Teeth Grinding or Clenching: These habits can put excessive pressure on your teeth, causing the gums to recede.
Smoking or Tobacco Use: Tobacco products increase the risk of gum disease and impair your gums’ ability to heal properly.
Hormonal Changes: Shifts in hormones, such as during pregnancy or menopause, can make gums more sensitive and vulnerable to recession.
Poor Oral Hygiene: Not brushing and flossing regularly allows plaque and tartar to build up, which can eventually cause gum recession.
Genetics: Some people are simply more prone to gum issues due to their genetic makeup.

Understanding the root cause of your gum recession is the first step toward effective treatment and prevention.

Can Gum Recession Be Reversed?

While receded gums cannot regenerate on their own, there are treatments and strategies that can help protect your teeth, stop further damage, and even restore some of the lost gum tissue.

Non-Surgical Options

Improving Oral Hygiene: Committing to brushing twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and flossing daily ensures you remove plaque and prevent further gum issues. Pair your routine with a water flosser for a thorough cleanup along the gumline.
Regular Dental Cleanings: Seeing your dentist for professional cleanings every six months is crucial. These visits remove tartar buildup, which you can’t reach with regular brushing and flossing.
Desensitizing Toothpaste: If sensitivity is an issue, using a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth can help protect exposed roots and reduce discomfort.
Orthodontic Adjustments: If misaligned teeth or bite issues are causing undue stress on your gums, orthodontic treatment may help alleviate the problem.

Preventing Gum Recession

Prevention is always better than cure, and protecting your gums from recession starts with good oral hygiene and healthy habits.

Daily Practices for Healthy Gums

Brush Gently Twice a Day: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste, and focus on cleaning the gumline without using too much force. Proper brushing technique makes all the difference.
Floss Every Day: Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between your teeth and along the gumline, where a toothbrush can’t reach.
Use a Water Flosser: Water flossers are excellent for gently flushing out debris and bacteria from hard-to-reach areas, especially if you have sensitive gums or dental work like braces.
Rinse with an Antibacterial Mouthwash: Incorporating mouthwash into your daily routine can help reduce plaque and fight bacteria that cause gum disease.

Avoiding Sugary Snacks

Frequent snacking on sugary treats without brushing afterward can contribute to plaque buildup, leading to gum problems. If you’re craving something sweet, try to eat it alongside a meal, when saliva production is higher and better for rinsing away sugars. And if you can’t brush your teeth right away, rinse your mouth with water to minimize the effects of sugar on your teeth and gums.

Regular Dental Visits

Scheduling checkups and professional cleanings every six months allows your dentist to catch early signs of gum problems and provide preventative care. These appointments are also an opportunity to discuss any concerns or ask about effective dental tools and techniques.

Lifestyle Habits to Avoid

Stop Smoking: Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of gum disease, so quitting can significantly improve your oral health.
Avoid Stress-Induced Teeth Grinding: Use a night guard if you grind your teeth in your sleep, as this habit puts unnecessary pressure on your gums.

Why Treatment Matters

Ignoring gum recession can lead to serious complications, including tooth loss, bone loss, and increased sensitivity. Receding gums can also leave your teeth more vulnerable to decay. Early action can prevent these issues and help you maintain a healthier smile.

Final Thoughts

While gums don’t grow back naturally after receding, there are many effective ways to restore and protect your oral health. By adopting a consistent oral hygiene routine, including brushing twice daily, flossing daily, using a water flosser, and visiting your dentist every six months, you can prevent further recession and keep your gums healthy.

If you’re concerned about gum recession or want to learn about advanced treatment options, don’t hesitate to contact Lane and Associates Family Dentistry. Our compassionate team of dental professionals is here to assess your needs and provide personalized solutions.

A healthier, brighter smile is within reach—with the right care and support, you can protect your gums and enjoy long-lasting dental health!

Share this post:

Posted on November 2, 2021November 2, 2021

YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD the expression “long in the tooth.” It conjures up the image of gum recession as a synonym for growing old, and yet gum recession isn’t always connected to age. This oral health problem is when the gingival tissue shrinks away from the crown of the tooth, slowly exposing more of the root. The extremely gradual nature of gum recession is why we tend to associate it with age, but it can start as early as childhood for a number of reasons.

Genetics and the Risk of Gum Recession

One risk factor for gum recession that we can’t do anything about is genetics. Some people are unlucky enough to have more fragile gum tissue or less jaw bone to support the gums all the way up to the crowns of their teeth. The good news is that other factors that contribute to gum disease are easier to control, so even those with a genetic predisposition can still minimize it.

Bruxism Is Bad for the Gums Too!

A chronic teeth-grinding habit, or bruxism, leads to a wide variety of oral health problems, including an increased risk of gum recession. The constant harsh friction of the teeth puts a lot of pressure on the gums and can damage them over time. Bruxism can be a very difficult habit to break, especially sleep bruxism. If grinding is something you struggle with, talk to the dentist! You have great allies in this fight.

The Damage of Overbrushing

A major contributor to gum recession can actually be brushing too much or too hard, leading to enamel erosion and wearing away of the gum tissue. This is why it’s so important to use a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Another important thing to remember is that cleaning your teeth doesn’t require the same elbow grease that goes into scrubbing tile grout. If you’re brushing hard enough to make your toothbrush bristles bend outward in a matter of months, you should definitely ease up. The same goes for flossing: daily flossing is essential, but be gentle. Use a C-shape and work your way down instead of snapping the floss directly onto your gums.

Gum Disease Makes the Gum Tissue Vulnerable

The more advanced gum disease becomes, the more it destroys the supporting gum tissue and bone around teeth, which is why it’s ultimately the main cause of gum recession. The best way to maintain good gum health is by being diligent in keeping up with dental hygiene habits.

Brush (gently) twice a day, floss daily and make regular dental appointments a priority. The professional cleaning you get from the hygienist is essential because brushing and flossing alone can’t remove plaque that has hardened into tartar. Plaque and tartar both cause irritation to the gums the longer they remain.

Gum Recession Can Happen to Kids?

The causes of gum recession in adults also apply to kids, which is why it’s important to help them with proper brushing and flossing (especially avoiding overbrushing) and pay attention to whether they have a grinding habit. Childhood gum recession could also happen as the result of an injury to the mouth. The best treatment is prevention through building and maintaining good oral health habits.

Take Care of Your Gums!

If you want to learn more about how to prevent gum recession or you’re worried that your gums may begin to recede (remember that the process can be extremely slow, so it can creep up on you), schedule a dental appointment! The dentist can help you look after your gum health and discuss treatment options if they’re necessary.

We’re rooting for our patients’ healthy gums!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.