Receding gums, a common dental condition, can lead to a variety of issues including discomfort, sensitivity, and even tooth loss. Painful receding gums occur when the gum tissue surrounding the teeth wears away or pulls back, exposing the roots and making the teeth more vulnerable to decay and other complications. In this article, we will explore the causes, symptoms, and potential treatment options for individuals experiencing the discomfort of painful receding gums.
Understanding Painful Receding Gums
The gums, also known as gum tissues, are made up of pink tissue in the mouth and are found at the base of the teeth. There is one gum for each set of teeth. The gingival tissue is dense and contains the best supply of blood vessels under a moist surface; if blood vessels are absent, then it’s called a mucous membrane. However, in cases of painful receding gums, the dense gingival tissue may start to retract, causing discomfort. The gingival tissue usually combines seamlessly with the rest of the mouth lining but is pink instead of shiny red, and when affected by painful receding gum, it can lead to sensitivity and pain.
Gums Attachment
The gums are firmly connected to the jawbone and tightly cover each tooth up to the neck. When intact, the gums cover up the roots of the teeth and protect them.
When a person notices a loss of tissue in the gums, then gingival recession happens. It exposes the roots of the teeth to bacterial germs and can lead to tooth decay.
Painful Receding Gums
Gum recession can occur when the gum tissue around the tooth shifts or collapses, exposing the roots of the teeth. Gum recession can also happen when a tooth is incorrectly positioned. Gums can also recede around a tooth if it is in an abnormal position. Painful receding gums become a health concern if the roots of the teeth become exposed, leaving the teeth at risk of decay. Receding gums is a most common condition, but people usually do not realize their gums are receding until the last stage in the process. If you’re experiencing tooth pain after root canal when biting, it’s important to seek dental attention promptly to address any underlying issues.
Painful Receding Gum Stages
1. Early Stage
In the early stages of gum disease, your teeth will seem healthy. Mostly your gums will seem normal, with no swelling. In contrast, mild smears of blood are normal from time to time, even in healthy gums.
2. Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the name given to the early-stage of gum disease, and at this point, it’s usually first noticed. Your dentist can help to cure gingivitis by giving your teeth a thorough clean. However, gingivitis is usually a sign that you need to step up your brushing and flossing game in the future to prevent it from running.
3. Early Periodontitis
In this stage, gums become inflamed, and they start to pull away from the teeth, forming spaces known as “periodontal pockets.” Due to this disease, food, bacteria, and plaque begin to collect in the pockets, leading to infection.
4. Moderate Periodontitis
In this stage, you might experience bleeding and pain around the teeth and gum recession. Your teeth will begin to lose bone support and become loose.
5. Advanced Periodontitis
In this case, the connective tissue that holds your teeth in place begins to deteriorate. If you have advanced periodontitis, you might experience severe pain while chewing, severe bad breath, and a foul taste in your mouth.
Painful Receding Gums Causes
Receding gums is caused by several factors, which are given below:
- Receding gums may occur due to aggressive brushing.
- They sometimes hardened plaque buildup.
- Smoking is also the reason for receding gums.
- Hormonal changes in women can also cause receding gums.
- Family history of gum disease
- Diabetes is also the cause of receding gums.
- Periodontal disease is also a common cause of gum recession. The Receding of gums tends to affect all the teeth similarly.
- Improper intake of nutrients such as high carbohydrates, sugar and low water will lead to plaque formation. The plague formation is also involved in the Receding of gums. Similarly, vitamin C deficiency will also weaken the healing of tissues.
Risk Factors
Age
Most older people have the highest rates of periodontal disease. Disease control indicates that over 70% of Americans 65 and older have periodontitis.
Genetics
Some people may be susceptible to gum disease genetically. Identifying these people at an earlier stage and getting treatment may help them keep their teeth for a lifetime.
Stress
Stress is also a risk factor for periodontitis disease. Because of stress and hypertension, the immunity of an individual decreases and makes it more difficult for the body to fight infection.
Medication
Some drugs are also the cause of receding gums. Like certain hearts, medicine can cause a recession of gums.
Clenching or Grinding your Teeth
Grinding can speed up the rate of gum recession.
Poor Nutrients and Obesity
Suppose a diet low in important nutrients can cause periodontal disease. Obesity may also increase the risk of gum disease.
Other Systemic Diseases
Other systemic diseases like the body’s inflammatory system may worsen the condition of the gums.
Symptoms of Painful Receding Gums
Commonly people don’t notice their gums are starting to recede until they become sensitive to cold food and drinks.
- Bad breath
- Mouth sores
- Pus between gums
- Swollen red color gums
- Spaces between gums and teeth
- Pain or tenderness in the gums
- Bleeding while brushing teeth, eating or drinking
- Hot or cold liquids
- loose or shifting teeth
- Sensitive gums
- loose teeth
- Bone loss around the teeth
- Sensitivity to hot or cold food or drinks
- Difficulty chewing
- An injury may cause pain, swelling, or tenderness in the gums to the mouth, but it may also indicate gum disease.
Treatment Options for Painful Receding Gums
Cases of mild gum recessions need no treatment. Gentle brushing is an effective early way.
Several treatment options are available:
Flap Procedure for Gum Disease
You need surgery for severe gum disease. A flap procedure cleans the tooth roots and repairs bone damage.
The periodontist or an oral surgeon often performs the procedure.The doctor will pull back a portion of your gums to clean your teeth roots and repair damaged bone if needed.
A bone may be:
- Smoothed and reconfigured so that plaque has fewer places to grow.
- They repaired with bone from another part of the body or with the material made by man. The doctor can place a border on the bone graft to support the bone growth back—the lining needs to be removed later.
Regeneration
In this procedure, some regenerative material like graft tissues, membrane and tissue-stimulating protein will be placed at the affected gum area to regenerate the damaged tissues automatically. After applying the regenerative material, the gum tissues are secured and are not allowed to be exposed directly.
Tissue Grafting
One of the commonly used methods for grafting is a connective tissue graft. In grafting, tissue layers are removed from a healthy part of your mouth and get stitched to the affected gum area. This new layer of your tissues will protect the receding gums and help in recovery or further injury.
Gingival Grafting
Dental surgery is performed to accurately assess the effects of gum recession. It is a simple surgery in which a periodontist removes healthy gum tissue from the roof of the mouth and uses it to construct the gum back up where it has receded.
Pedicle Grafting
It is another way to protect your receding gums with the help of the grafting technique. In this procedure, if you have enough tissue surrounding the affected gums, the doctor will take those tissues from the other parts of the mouth. It helps to recover your receding gums easily.
Desensitizing agents
These products have the aim to reduce the sensitivity of the exposed tooth root. Desensitizing agents treat the nerve symptoms and help by easing the brushing of sensitive teeth.
Removable Gum Veneers
Usually, acrylic is a removable gum veneer, and it artificially replaces the large area of missing gum tissue.
Orthodontics
These include treatments by removing the space present between the gums. This repositioning can make the gum better.
Pink Porcelain
It is a pink material and can be applied to fill the gaps where the gums have receded.
Home Remedies For Receding Gums
1. oil pulling:
If you want to try pulling oil, then swish a tablespoon of premium coconut oil on all sides of your mouth for at least 20 minutes. Then spit out the oil, wash your mouth with warm tap or saline water, and brush your teeth.
2. Eucalyptus oil:
Eucalyptus oil is an anti-inflammatory antiseptic that helps soothe receding gums and stimulate the growth of new gum tissue.
3. Rinse Saltwater:
Rinse salt water is effective for use as a bacterial agent and soothing gum inflammation.
- Thoroughly combine one teaspoon Of salt and 1 cup of warm water.
- Wash your mouth with this saltwater mixture.
- Spit out the rinse — don’t engulf it.
- Repeat it at least twice a day.
4. Green tea:
Drinking green tea helps to promote healthy teeth and gums. In Japanese, 940 men who drank at least one cup of green tea a day experienced a significant decrease in gum recession and bleeding. We should try to drink one to two cups of green tea daily.
5. Brushing:
- You should brush your teeth.
- Use a soft and fluffy toothbrush to remove plaque and debris from your teeth.
- A medium- or hard-bristled brush could harm your gums, root surface, and tooth enamel.
6. Flossing:
Flossing one time per day is a crucial part of caring for your teeth and gums. It helps to remove debris between teeth.
Recapitulation
We hope this article has persuaded you of the importance of taking care of your gums. As we’ve mentioned above, it’s better to schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as you experience any issues regarding your gums receding. Otherwise, making regular trips to your dentist will also help keep your gums and teeth healthy.
For More Information
1.https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22753-gum-recession
2.https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/gum-disease
3.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodontal_disease
Meet Shawn Perez, the accomplished author and dental enthusiast behind the engaging content at https://gumbalm.com. With a keen passion for oral health, Shawn brings a wealth of knowledge to his readers, offering insightful tips and expert advice on achieving and maintaining a confident, healthy smile. Dive into Shawn’s articles to discover the latest trends, effective remedies, and practical insights that contribute to overall dental well-being.
