Receding gum also known as Gingival recession is a condition in which your gum tissues that support and protect your teeth begins to reduce.
Most people above the age of 40 may begin to experience receding gums which exposes the teeth roots to the mouth environment. It is important to treat receding gums otherwise they may lead to tooth decay and teeth loss.
Since gum receding happens gradually you may not notice it in early stages, but it is a very common dental problem.
The early signs of receding gum can be tooth sensitivity and you may notice a particular tooth or a set of teeth look bigger than the rest.
Gradually as the gum tissues recede, they expose more teeth and the protective tissues over the teeth roots reduces.
This may easily cause build up of bacteria that may increase gum disease, impacting bone structure and you may ultimately lose teeth.
Whenever you notice gum receding, you must contact your dentist and find ways to stop receding gums to prevent any further damage.
What Causes Receding Gums?
More than 30% of people are predisposed to gum diseases. If your parents had it due to genetics, then you will also have it irrespective of how well you take care of your teeth.
In that case treat gum disease early and save your teeth from decaying further otherwise you will loose them.
The second most common cause of the gum receding problem is inadequate dental care. Many people just do not consider dental hygiene as a normal healthy routine.
They ignore it. You must do regular brushing, flossing and rinsing your teeth with antibacterial mouthwash to protect you from bacteria build up on your teeth.
On the other hand too much emphasis on brushing or wrong way of brushing can also cause gum receding. Hard or aggressive brushing can wear out the protective enamel on your teeth leading to gum receding.
Bacterial gum infections known as periodontal diseases can destroy gum tissues and support bone structure leading to gum receding and teeth loss. This is also a very common cause of gum receding.
In addition to these causes, hormonal changes in females during puberty, pregnancy and menopause can also make your teeth sensitive and prone to gum diseases.
Other less common causes of gum receding include, addiction to tobacco chewing and smoking, jewelry after body piercing of lips or tongue, tooth grinding habits and misaligned tooth.
7 Effective Home Remedies to Repair Receding Gums
Earlier you stop receding gums better it is. The earliest you can begin is when you begin to experience teeth sensitivities. If you do not feel sensitivities but notice that one of the teeth is beginning to look bigger, then that is the time to begin home remedies for receding gums. Those are the early warning signs of gum disease.
Following will help in most early and mild cases of gum receding:
1. Prevent Further Progression of Receding Gums
The very first step you have to take after noticing receding gums is to prevent it from causing any further damage. So if you are a smoker or in a habit of tobacco chewing, stop it immediately.
Start taking dental hygiene seriously. Make it a habit to brush and floss your teeth regularly. Use antibacterial mouthwash to ensure no bacterial build up takes place on your teeth.
Eat a balanced diet. Avoid sugary products. They not only have a bad impact on your teeth but may cause other health conditions such as diabetes and skin diseases.
2. Drink Enough Water
The second step is to reduce receding gums to keep yourself completely hydrated. This is important to improve your immunity and overall health. Dryness causes all sorts of bacterial build up.
Drinking water regularly also gives an opportunity to the food stuck in the mouth to get dislodge from the teeth and move to the intestine where it belongs. Whenever you drink water try to swish so that food particles easily move.
3. Clove Oil
Clove oil has been in use since ancient times for gum diseases. It is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial oil. Gently massage clove oil on your gums for 2-3 minutes.
You can also chew clove slowly for it to release clove oil that goes into the gums.
4. Coconut Oil Pulling
Oil pulling with coconut oil will remove all kinds of microbes from your mouth and teeth. Coconut oil has high antimicrobial properties.
You can do the oil pulling just after the brushing two times a day. Add some virgin coconut oil to water and mix it well. You can use virgin coconut oil alone also.
Take a teaspoon of coconut oil in the mouth and swirl and swish inside the mouth for 2-3 minutes or more if you can.
Swishing with virgin coconut oil will not only regrow the receding gums but will also keep you away from all king of mouth and teeth diseases.
5. Sesame Oil
Sesame oil will also do the same job as the virgin coconut oil. Take a teaspoon of sesame oil and swirl and swish inside your mouth in the same way as you would do with the coconut oil as explained above.
6. Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil possesses anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Massage your gums with eucalyptus oil daily before going to sleep. This is a great natural cure for receding gums and other gum diseases.
You need only a few drops of eucalyptus oil. You can add a few drops in a teaspoon of water. Mix it well and then apply it on your gums and gently massage.
7. Green Tea
Green tea contains a natural antioxidant called catechin which fights against bacteria and all kinds of periodontal diseases.
Change your daily beverages to green tea. You can drink a cup of green tea 2 times a day to reduce receding gums and improve your overall oral hygiene.
More severe receding gum problems due to plaque and tartar accumulation can be treated by a dentist and in some extreme cases surgery may be required. So it is always better to identify the early signs and treat it early.