When you are short on gum tissue, your teeth are bound to suffer. First of all, it badly distorts your natural smile. But more importantly, it exposes your tooth roots to bacterial attacks that can end in root canals or even total tooth loss.

But what are the causes of receding gum lines and gum tissue loss? And what can you do to prevent it, minimize it, and reverse it?

The Major Causes Of Gum Loss
There are numerous causes of gum loss and gum line recession, but poor oral care at home and neglect of dental checkups is the leading cause. Bacteria buildup in your mouth can lead to gum infection and gum disease, which in turn, destroys healthy gum tissue and leaves your teeth bare.

But other causes of gum loss include: brushing too hard or with a hard-bristled toothbrush, genetic predisposition, smoking and drinking, hormonal imbalances, crooked or misaligned teeth, and chronic teeth grinding/clenching.

How To Prevent / Reverse Gum Recession
For the most part, gum disease and gum loss are preventable and reversible. The best turnaround comes from removing the causes.

Just start implementing a proper oral health regimen, eating high-vitamin, low-sugar foods, using special mouth rinses and toothpastes that fight gum recession, quit smoking, quit drinking excessively, wear a mouthguard to prevent tooth grinding at night, and use braces or other treatments to straighten misaligned teeth.

In some cases, you might need to undergo periodontal treatment, pinhole surgical grafts, or crown lengthening to correct gum line and gum infection problems.

Laser Periodontal Treatment Minimizes Gum Loss
When it comes to getting your gum disease treated, choosing laser periodontal treatment will minimize the amount of gum tissue loss that is involved in the procedure.

Excessive gum loss can occur during periodontal treatments that rely exclusively on scalpels and handheld dental tools to cut away infected periodontal tissue. But when LANAP lasers are used instead, the bad tissue can be safely burned off or cut away without affecting a significant amount of adjacent healthy tissue.

The greater precision of modern dental lasers means quicker healing post-op, better immediate adherence of gums to tooth roots, more thorough destruction of harmful bacteria, and stimulation that helps gums regenerate themselves faster. All of this combines to make laser periodontal treatment the optimal choice for treating gum disease while minimizing gum loss.

Get Regular Periodontal Checkups
Nothing could be wiser than to continually monitor your gums! If you notice gum line recession, sore, red, or swollen gum tissue, gum sensitivity or bleeding, or other signs of gum disease or gum loss – do not hesitate to contact your local periodontist for help.

It is also wise to schedule an annual oral checkup with a periodontist that includes a complete examination of your gums. The majority of US adults suffer from some form of gum loss, gum disease, or gum line recession. Catching and treating it early puts the odds in your favor when it comes to a quick, full recovery.
For more information on how to protect your gums and how to correct gum problems you may currently have, contact periodontist Dr. Raymond A. Kenzik in Ormond Beach, Florida, today for a free consultation!