Receding gums refers to gum pulling away from the tooth, leaving the root unprotected. Once you develop receding gums, ideal spaces for plaque and bacteria collection automatically form. Plaques and bacteria can worsen your condition, resulting in bone or tooth loss. 

Receding gums can be caused by poor oral hygiene, bad brushing technique, age, and genes. Before the receding gums worsen, it’s advisable to seek medical help or use natural remedies to treat or slow it down. Failure to which the condition might take time to improve. Here are some tips and tricks for fixing receding gums:

  • Consider Gum Surgery

While natural remedies can effectively correct receding gums, sometimes the condition might be so severe for such. In such an event, the lasting solution might lie in gum surgery. Therefore, it’s vital to study the progress of your receding gum and visit a dentist once you determine it’s severe.

As far as gum surgery correct receding gums is concerned, there are several surgical procedures. They include:

  • Flap surgery: Flap surgery involves deep cleaning of the gums. Here, your dentist will lift your gums to clean out the bacteria behind the condition before placing the gums back. After this procedure, your gum line might appear shorter since it closely fits your teeth.
  • Tissue graft: If your case is severe, your dentist might need tissue grafting. During this surgery, tissue is harvested from your mouth’s roof and attached to the gum line. Tissue graft surgery aims to cover the uncovered teeth roots to minimize the harm. Remember, this procedure leaves you with stitches on your gum line and mouth roof. Nevertheless, no one will ever notice if you have had surgery once they heal.
  • Bone regeneration: This procedure is ideal for receding gum, severely affecting the jaw and the teeth bone. The procedure involves protein application to facilitate tissue regrowth.
  • Brush The Teeth Correctly

Brushing can correct most dental issues. However, your brushing technique matters a lot. If you brush your teeth aggressively, you’re only going to escalate the matter. Therefore, use a soft or medium textured bristled brush, especially if you’re fixing damaged gum.

  • Replace Non-Fitting Dentures

With time, partial dentures can lose grip and become incompatible with your mouth. This can result from various reasons such as uneven jaw alignment, bone and gum ridges shrinkage, or denture wear and tear. Unfortunately, if your dentures are no longer fitting, they can begin to rub against your gums, resulting in receding gums. In such a case, the only solution will be to replace the ill-fitting dentures.

  • Consider Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is a plaque and food removal from the mouth practice that has been used for decades. Besides being among the most effective ways of using natural oils to keep the mouth clean, it can also help receding gums and gingivitis.

For this practice to be effective, you’ll need high-quality sesame or coconut oil. Use a spoonful of oil and swish it while pulling it between the teeth. The procedure should last for at least 20 minutes. Afterward, use warm water to rinse your mouth. Then brush your teeth.

  • Use Salt Water

Saltwater isn’t just ‘saltwater.’ It’s an easy-to-make antibacterial that can kill most bacteria associated with dental issues. To be specific, saltwater can destroy receding gum-causing bacteria. It can also calm swollen and painful gums.

When making saltwater, add one tablespoon of salt to a cup of warm water, and use the mixture to rinse your mouth for at least 30 seconds before spitting the solution. For effectiveness, repeat the procedure at least twice a day, and your receding gums will grow back within no time.

  • Floss Regularly

Dental flossing is the ideal solution for removing plaques and food particles from less-accessible parts between the teeth. Once food particles and plaques are left for a prolonged period on your teeth, bacteria associated with receding gums start to multiply, resulting in receding gums condition or worsening it. Fortunately, you can effectively destroy these bacteria by flossing your teeth twice a day.

  • Use A Mouthguard

A splint or mouthguard is believed to prevent gum recession from mouth grinding at night. This tool provides equal pressure across the jaw while separating the top and the bottom teeth. If a mouthguard seems like your ideal solution, consider asking your dentist to custom-make one for you or purchase it from a nearby pharmacy.

Conclusion

Receding gums isn’t a new phenomenon. The condition has been around for decades. While aging and genetics can increase your chances of developing receding gums, bad oral habits can sometimes contribute to it. Fortunately, there are ways to correct or slow down the condition. If you have receding gums, consider the above tricks and hacks to manage the condition. Remember, regular dental visits can prevent you from developing dental and oral conditions.