Why do gums recede?

The phenomenon of gum recession is medically known as periodontal disease. As an important part of the oral cavity, the consequences of gum recession are very serious. Not only local reasons can cause this phenomenon, but many systemic factors are also important causes. In order to better prevent the occurrence of gum recession, it is very necessary to understand the causes in detail. So, why do gums recede? Let’s take a look below.

Inflammatory gingival atrophy: This type of atrophy is the most common, mainly because periodontitis causes the periodontal tissue to be destroyed. After the alveolar bone is absorbed, the gums attached to the alveolar bone also shrink towards the root direction. It only occurs in patients with periodontitis.

Mechanical gingival recession: mainly due to mechanical friction or pressure on the gums caused by toothbrushes that do not meet the standards, incorrect brushing methods (such as horizontal brushing), poor restorations, etc., resulting in recession of the gums and alveolar bone. It usually occurs in a group of teeth or individual teeth.

Disuse gingival atrophy: This is mainly because the teeth have lost their chewing function, the periodontal tissue lacks the necessary functional stimulation, and is in a state of disuse for a long time, which can cause the gums and alveolar bones to be absorbed. This type of gum atrophy is just like a person who stays in bed for a long time and does not walk, which causes muscle atrophy. It's the same principle.

Senile gingival atrophy: only occurs in the elderly and is caused by aging. It is a physiological phenomenon, which is the manifestation of the dental system as the functions of various organs decline as humans age. This type of atrophy is the shrinkage of the gums and alveolar bone around most or all of the teeth in the mouth.

Premature gingival recession: Similar to senile gingival recession, but mostly occurs in younger people. In other words, young people show the symptoms of gingival atrophy in the elderly, so it is called premature gingival atrophy. According to a recent survey, young people are experiencing premature gum recession, which is believed to be caused by the influence of diet or living environment pollution (hormones, additives, etc. contained in food) and drugs.

Regardless of which of the above reasons causes gum atrophy, the root cause is essentially long-term lack of vitamin C, which leads to malnutrition of the gums and low immune function, resulting in atrophy and degeneration. Once gum recession occurs, it is difficult to regenerate the gums and alveolar bone and restore their original height.