Tech Break

If the gums that surround the teeth are observed to be pulling away, this is one of the sure signs of gingival recession, commonly known as receding gums. A healthy set of teeth should fit perfectly and has a gum line that keeps it in place. Due to gingival recession, the gum line becomes higher than the usual and the roots of the teeth that are supposed to be protected are now visibly exposed.

Having receding gums is always a sign of bad oral health. This is a side effect of gum or periodontal disease.  If the gum disease is left untreated, the tissues become damaged causing it to recede and usually progresses to something even worst.  Once a person is diagnosed with this condition, the best thing to do is to prevent it from progressing and damaging the gums. Even though it is very difficult to regenerate lost gums, one can still do something about treating gingivitis which is the main cause of receding gums. One can turn to the homeopathic ways of treating gingivitis to reverse receding gums naturally.

A person can drink a chamomile with sage tea for receding gums natural treatment. To create this formula, one can combine chamomile and sage to create the tea and let it cool on room temperature. It is best to have a mixture enough for two cups. The first cup will be gargled for 2-3 minutes and then one must drink the remaining cup to promote vigour for connective tissues in the body.

Another natural treatment for receding gums is the Hawthorne balm. To create the balm, Hawthorne powder is mixed with horsetail powder. This is usually used by people suffering from gum problems. The supplement capsule form of Hawthorne berry is known to have a special enzyme called vitexin that strengthens and promotes gum tissue growth and at the same time is an agent to reduce formation of plaque on the mouth. One can simply apply this Hawthorne balm to the affected gum after cleansing the mouth.

White oak bark paste is also used as a homeopathic treatment for receding gums. This is created by grinding white oak bark powder with distilled or spring water until it is thick enough. The paste formed will be applied on the gums and left overnight. Supplements that contain white oak bark ingredient can also be taken to combat gum diseases. It is also very important to consult not only the dentist but also a homeopathic doctor before trying out any homeopathic medicinal mixes. The natural remedies and supplements must be right for one’s body, so it is advisable to do research about it and talk with one’s doctor.

Receding gums may occur due to a number of factors which include genetics and aging. This is one major dental problem faced by many people today that have caused tooth loss in many adults.  Gums recede due to aggressive brushing and poor oral hygiene which allows bacteria to eat away the gums. Chewing tobacco and eating disorders like bulimia may also cause receding gums.   If this happens, it is best to consult your dentist or periodontist for treatment.

If a person has a mild gum recession, a deep cleaning of the affected area can be performed by a periodontist. During deep cleaning, plaque and tartar that has built up on the teeth and root surfaces below the gum line is carefully removed. Then, the exposed root area is smoothed to make it more difficult for bacteria to attach. This procedure is also called tooth scaling and root planning. Antibiotics will then be given to get rid of any harmful bacteria that may still remain on the mouth. If the receding gums cannot be treated with deep cleaning due of the excess loss of bone and pockets that are too deep, gum surgery may be required to repair the damage. These can be through pocket depth reduction, regeneration, or soft tissue graft. The periodontist can determine the best type of procedure to use on based on an individual’s needs.

Pocket depth reduction is a periodontal surgery performed to gain access on the root surface to effectively remove calculus. This also reduces the size of the pockets to help prevent bacteria from settling in. It involves a series of surgical procedures: gingivectomy, flap surgery and osseous surgery.  In this procedure, the periodontist folds back the receding gums and remove the harmful bacteria from the pockets. He will then snugly secure the gum tissue in place over the tooth root, thus eliminating the pockets or reducing their size.

Regeneration is a procedure to regenerate lost bone and tissue if the bone supporting your teeth has been destroyed as a result of gum recession. Just like in pocket depth reduction, the periodontist will fold back the gum tissue and remove the bacteria. A regenerative material will then be applied to encourage your body to naturally regenerate bone and tissue in that area. This can be a membrane, graft tissue, or tissue-stimulating protein. After the regenerative material is put into place, the gum tissue is then secured over the root of the tooth or teeth.

Soft tissue graft is done when recession of the gingiva occurs.  This procedure starts when a flap of skin is cut at the roof of your mouth. The subepithelial connective tissue from under the flap will be removed and stitched to the gum tissue surrounding the exposed root. Once done, the flap is stitched back down.

Ever since we were children we were always reminded by our moms and of course the family dentist to regularly brush our teeth. Eating sweets like candies and chocolates adds more factors that contribute to the development of bacteria resulting in cavities and tooth decay. In addition to brushing, flossing followed by rinsing with mouthwash is the best dental care routine to prevent oral problems such as swollen and receding gums.

One of the reasons why a person has oral health problems is the accumulation of plaque. Plaque is a bacterial development and the buildup of the substances that weakens your gums.  They will cause tooth decay if not removed regularly. The bacteria in tooth plaque release acid that cause injury to the tooth’s enamel. As the bacterial acid builds up, the enamel of the teeth will begin to deteriorate that causes brittleness and in time, cavities. If left untreated, more plaque will pile up causing it to harden and thus form tartar on your teeth.

What are the bad habits that cause tooth decay? It is probably not a secret to any of us that not regularly brushing our teeth causes plaque, cavities and tartar. Plaque bacterial development likes to feed on the food debris that is stuck on the gaps on our teeth and even on the surface. Once they consume the food debris that should have been removed with regular brushing, acid is being excreted which results to the decay of the tooth enamel.

How do we cure receding gums?  The natural cure for receding gums is boosting your immune system. Eat foods rich in vitamin C such as kiwi and mango.  Taking in enough vitamin C in your body doesn’t only help you cure or prevent acquiring gum problems but at the same time your body can resist other illnesses such as cough and flu.

In addition, foods that contain vitamin D are found to have anti-inflammatory effect and helps reduce your susceptibility in getting gum diseases. The most accessible source of vitamin D is the sun. Exposure to sun’s rays can provide you especially your skin enough vitamins that you need. Now, what are foods rich in vitamin D?  Example of foods that have this type of vitamins is margarine, cheese and milk.
Another natural remedy for gum recession is stress reduction. Unmanageable situations can cause stress and this will contribute to the accumulation of plaques in our mouth. Try to handle stress in a possible manner.