Your oral health is a critical component of your overall health. When most people think of their oral health, however, they think about their teeth, and forget all about their gums. In reality, though, your gums are just as important as your teeth when it comes to your oral health.
One of the first signs that your gums aren’t in the best shape is recessed gums. Curious about the most common gum recession causes? Read on to learn everything you need to know about recessed gums!
Poor Oral Hygiene
One of the biggest contributors to gum recession is poor oral hygiene. As a good rule of thumb, you should be brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day. If you aren’t doing that, then your gums are at risk.
Why?
Brushing and flossing remove plaque from your teeth, and if you don’t remove it, it builds up on your teeth and damages your gums. The more damage it does, the more your gums pull back. As your gums recede, pockets form that allows plaque and bacteria room to grow and cause even more damage.
If you really want to know how to prevent gum recession, then following a proper oral hygiene routine is the way to go!
Incorrect Brushing
You know brushing your teeth is important, but did you know that there’s a right and a wrong way to do it? You might be surprised to learn that brushing your teeth the wrong way causes damage to your gums and might make them recede. Brushing too frequently, too vigorously, or with a brush that is too stiff are major contributors.
Make sure to follow the proper brushing procedure, and your gums will be in the clear!
Grinding Your Teeth
Grinding your teeth might not be a conscious activity, but it is something that might make your gums recede. Grinding your teeth puts stress on your gums, which leads to receding gums. In addition, your gums might also become inflamed, which puts additional stress on your gums.
Over time, this might turn into periodontal disease, if it isn’t treated.
Diabetes
People living with diabetes are at a higher risk of gum disease because many people struggle with poor circulation throughout their bodies. This means your gums and teeth aren’t getting enough nutrients to keep them strong and healthy. In addition, higher blood sugar leads to more bacterial growth in your mouth, which also contributes to gum recession.
If you have diabetes, it’s important to see your dentist regularly for monitoring.
Do You Recognize These Gum Recession Causes?
Life gets busy, and it’s easy to let our oral health slide, especially when it comes to taking care of our gums. If you recognize some of these gum recession causes in yourself, then it’s critically important to take steps to eliminate your risk of going from mild gum recession to severe gum recession. Talk to your dentist as soon as possible to learn how you can reverse gum recession!
Do you want to learn more great ways to take care of your overall health? You’ve come to the right place. Check out the rest of our blog for tons of fantastic health tips!
Andrea Parker is a reporter for Zobuz. She previously worked at Huffington Post and Vanity Fair. Andrea is based in NYC and covers issues affecting her city. In addition to her severe coffee addiction, she’s a Netflix enthusiast, a red wine drinker, and a voracious reader.
