{"id":1534,"date":"2021-09-30T12:22:22","date_gmt":"2021-09-30T12:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareireland.ie\/nidm\/?p=1534"},"modified":"2026-06-04T11:19:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T11:19:34","slug":"receding-gums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dentalcareireland.ie\/nidm\/blog\/receding-gums\/","title":{"rendered":"Receding Gums"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Gum recession occurs when the gum tissue surrounding your teeth wears away or pulls back, exposing more of the tooth or the root beneath.<\/h2>\n<p>Receding gums are a common condition, and can occur at any age. People are often unaware that their gums are receding as it is such a gradual process. Although gum tissue does not grow back, there are many treatment options that can help to stop or slow down the process. If left untreated, however, the tissue and bone structures of the teeth can be severely damaged, eventually leading to tooth loss.<\/p>\n<p>Here, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentalcareireland.ie\/nidm\/meet-our-dental-team\/\">Dr Maher Kemmoona<\/a>, our gum specialist, outlines some common causes, symptoms and treatments for receding gums.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why do gums recede?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>There are a number of factors that can cause gums to recede, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Gum diseases:<\/strong> these are bacterial gum infections that destroy gum tissue and the supporting bone which holds the teeth in place.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Genetics:<\/strong> some people are more predisposed to periodontal weaknesses and gum disease.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Aggressive tooth brushing:<\/strong> brushing too hard can wear away tooth enamel and cause your gums to recede.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Poor oral hygiene: <\/strong>inadequate brushing and flossing may result in a build-up of tartar, which can lead to gum disease and gum recession.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hormonal changes: <\/strong>fluctuations in hormones can make the gums more sensitive and susceptible to gum disease and gum recession.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Teeth clenching or grinding:<\/strong> severe grinding or clenching can put pressure on your gums which may cause them to recede.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Misaligned teeth:<\/strong> if teeth do not meet correctly, too much force can be placed on the gums, causing them to recede.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Smoking:<\/strong> as smoking weakens the immune system, it makes it harder to fight off a gum infection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Symptoms of receding gums <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The first sign of gum recession tends to be increased tooth sensitivity, but you may also notice a tooth looks longer than normal or feel a notch where the gum meets the tooth. Some commons symptoms include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bleeding after brushing or flossing<\/li>\n<li>Red, swollen gums<\/li>\n<li>Bad breath<\/li>\n<li>Pain at the gum line<\/li>\n<li>Sensitivity caused by exposed teeth roots<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>How to prevent gum recession<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A thorough oral health routine and regular dental visits will provide the best protection against receding gums. Ideally, brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, floss daily and schedule a dental check-up at least once a year, or more frequently as advised.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Treatment for receding gums<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you are concerned about receding gums, start by making an appointment with your dentist. They will measure how far your gums have receded to determine the most effective next steps. Your dentist may refer you to a gum specialist called a periodontist for more advance treatment.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In mild cases, your dentist may prescribe a course of deep cleaning (known as scaling and root planing) to remove plaque and tartar build-up below the gum line.<\/li>\n<li>Your dentist might also apply a slow-release antibacterial gel under your gum line or prescribe an antibiotic mouthwash.<\/li>\n<li>In more severe cases, there are a number of surgery options to remove bacteria that is deep under your gums, or to replace missing gum tissue. This involves the use of a gum graft to repair a defect caused by gum recession.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>To book your next appointment at Northumberland Dental Care, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentalcareireland.ie\/nidm\/contact\/\">contact us here<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gum recession occurs when the gum tissue surrounding your teeth wears away or pulls back, exposing more of the tooth or the root beneath. Receding gums are a common condition, and can occur at any age. People are often unaware that their gums are receding as it is such a gradual process. Although gum tissue [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":1535,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[63],"class_list":["post-1534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-receding-gums"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Receding Gums | Gum Recession | Northumberland Dental Care<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Receding gums are a common condition, and can occur at any age. 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