Can gum recession be reversed?

Gum recession is quite common in our daily life. If we do not pay attention to oral hygiene, tooth decay and periodontal disease may occur, which may cause gum recession. Generally, the recession is irreversible and there is no way to alleviate it through treatment. Therefore, it is very important to prevent gum recession. We should perform oral health care regularly and master the correct brushing method.

Can gum recession be reversed?

Gum recession is a common disease caused by periodontal disease. There is dental plaque in the lower part of the gums, which can cause gum recession, loose and falling teeth, etc. Gingival atrophy can be divided into two categories: pathological atrophy and physiological atrophy. Pathological atrophy is mainly caused by the presence of foreign matter (tartar) in the gingival margin that has not been cleaned for a long time, which leads to bacterial proliferation and stimulation. In addition, atrophy will occur to a greater or lesser extent with age, exposing the tooth roots. This is called physiological atrophy, which does not require treatment but can be delayed through health care.

Gum recession often makes the exposed teeth abnormally sensitive to temperature changes and acidic foods, hindering eating and reducing the quality of life. Inflammatory gum atrophy is mainly manifested by red, swollen and painful gums, and bleeding is common when brushing teeth.

So, can gum recession be restored? If the gums have already receded, it is difficult to regenerate. During treatment, the focus is mainly on the primary cause of the disease to prevent it from continuing to develop. If you have allergic symptoms, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush and use a desensitizing toothpaste. For atrophy caused by occlusal trauma, an experienced dentist should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment, and attention should be paid to correcting incorrect brushing methods.

How to prevent gum recession

Gum recession is irreversible and the focus should be on prevention. The following points should be achieved:

1. Regular oral health care. Keeping your teeth clean is the most effective way to delay gum recession, and regular teeth cleaning is particularly important. The "Guidelines for Oral Health of Chinese Residents" issued by the General Office of the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China in September 2009 advocates cleaning teeth once a year as an effective measure to prevent gingivitis. Patients who already have symptoms of periodontal disease should receive systematic periodontal treatment in a timely manner.

2. Master the correct method of brushing your teeth. It is recommended to use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a blunt tip. Fluoride toothpaste is preferred, and the abrasive contained in it should be of appropriate coarseness and fineness. At the same time, you must learn the correct brushing posture. Most people can use the vertical brushing method or the short horizontal vibration method. Use an interdental brush and dental floss to clean the spaces between teeth that are difficult to clean with a toothbrush. Avoid using toothpicks, because long-term use of toothpicks to pick your teeth can easily stimulate the atrophy of the gingival papillae between teeth.

Vertical brushing method: Place the tip of the toothbrush bristles at the junction of the gums and the crowns, apply slight pressure along the direction of the teeth, brush downward when brushing the upper teeth, and brush upward when brushing the lower teeth. Brush the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth and the occlusal surface. Brush the same area repeatedly. This method can effectively remove plaque and soft scale, and can stimulate the gums to keep the gums in normal shape.

Short horizontal vibration method: It means that the bristles are at a 45-degree angle to the teeth, so that part of the bristles enters the gap between the gums and the tooth surface, and the other part extends into the gap between the teeth, making short-distance vibrations back and forth. When brushing the occlusal surface, the bristles should be placed flat on the tooth surface and vibrated back and forth over a short distance. You can brush 2 to 3 teeth in each area. Brush both the inside and outside of your teeth. Although this method is also horizontal brushing, it is a short-distance horizontal brushing, basically making horizontal vibrations in the original position. Compared with large-scale horizontal brushing, it will not damage the neck of the teeth and is not easy to damage the gums.