If you ever look in the mirror and find your teeth look different from usual, chances are you may be steadily developing receding gums. The reason why you may not be entirely aware that this is happening is that the process is subtle. As a result, you may have an inkling that something is not right but cannot put your finger on why your teeth appear strange to you. Nevertheless, it would be advisable to see your dentist so they can determine whether this is happening and have it remedied before it escalates. So what are some of the factors that would put you at risk of developing receding gums?
You have undetected gum disease
One of the main causes of receding gums is progressive gum disease, typically referred to as periodontitis. Periodontitis should not be confused with gingivitis, as the latter is inflammation and does not pose a high risk to your oral health if caught early. Periodontitis, on the other hand, can lead to permanent damage to your gums. As a result, your gums start to recede and detach from your teeth. If the receding gums are not treated, bacteria will make their way under the gum line and begin to disintegrate the jawbone. Over time, this could lead to tooth loss, as the roots of your teeth will not be secure. One thing to note about tooth loss and bone loss is that it does not exclusively affect your oral health. If the problem is severe, your facial features could also be compromised, and you could develop speech impediments, problems with chewing and so on.
Improper dental care practices
Your oral health is largely dictated by how well you care for and maintain your teeth. For some people, investing their time in oral hygiene is not a priority. As a result, they will do the bare minimum, which might be only brushing their teeth once a day. You may assume that this would be sufficient to keep your teeth clean, but what you do not realise is that bacteria will start to accumulate in your gum line. Moreover, improper dental practices will also put you at risk of developing cavities and other oral ailments, which would put you at risk of other symptoms, such as gum recession. Lastly, routine cleaning from your dentist is crucial to ensure that plaque does not develop into tartar, which also poses a high risk of causing gum recession. Therefore, it would be advisable to seek routine dental checkups and cleaning to prevent oral problems, rather than only visiting your dentist when your oral health is severely compromised.
