Have you ever heard the old adage, “Death and Taxes?” Well there are some things in life that you have no control over. But one thing that you may be able to prevent is gum recession. Some San Diego patients may experience gum recession, even if they follow every recommendation for oral hygiene suggested by their dentist.
However, there are some things you can do to slow down this process and we’re going to look at a few of those here in this blog post. But if you’ve started to notice that your teeth are more sensitive to cold and hot foods, or if you can see that your gums are receding, make sure you give us a call today at (858) 635-6700. You can also take a look at our gallery of Before-and-After pictures of our patients who have had their receding gums corrected.
Easy Strategies to Prevent Gum Recession
San Diego men and women can use a few simple tactics to stop their gums from receding.
- Re-evaluate your toothbrush – If you have noticed your gums receding, it imperative that you use the softest brush you can find to prevent unnecessary damage to your weekend gum tissue. The pressure the you use to brush is also very important; if the bristles of your toothbrush ever flare out or become worn down, this may be a sign that you are using too much pressure to clean your teeth. The gums were not designed to be scrubbed and they often aren’t strong enough to resist this type of repetitive trauma. Electric brushes are ok too, but it is even more important that very light pressure is used and that the teeth are never scrubbed.
- Toothpaste matters- If you think your gums are receding, consider using a mild toothpaste like Sensodyne to minimize the risk of physical trauma from harsh abrasives or irritating chemicals like those found in whitening toothpastes.
- Night guard – Grinding your teeth at night is called bruxism, resulting in constant and intense pressure on your teeth and may stress your gums as well and worsen your recession. A night guard can absorb some of the pressure on your teeth so that your gums don’t start to recede.
- Stop gum disease – One of the most destructive forces on your gums is gum disease. It can irritate your gums very quickly if left untreated and cause severe, non-repairable bone loss. Regular brushing and especially flossing in combination with professional dental cleanings can help prevent gum disease and severe recession.
- See your dentist – One of the major common causes of gum disease is failure to see the dentist. Regular dental visits can not only catch gum recession and gum disease early, but they can often help prevent them.
How to Get Started with Us
If you think you’re experiencing gum disease or recession, San Diego patients first need to call our offices at (858) 635-6700. You’ll always be greeted by one of our well-trained and very friendly staff. We always look forward to talking with new potential patients! We’re more than happy to talk with you about your concerns and do our best to answer your questions. From there we’ll schedule a convenient time for you to come into our office for a consultation with Dr. Beck-Mayo. During this visit, Dr. Beck-Mayo will perform a comprehensive oral examination to evaluate your oral health. She will also talk with you about any pain you’re experiencing and any areas of sensitivity that you might have. After that, Dr. Beck-Mayo will develop a customized plan to help you address any areas of concern. We can’t wait to hear from you!
