I have an issue where my gums are going further and further away from the teeth. I believe this is called a receding gumline. My dentist has never mentioned that I have gum disease, so I don’t think this is the issue. What else could cause this problem?
Melissa
Dear Melissa,
There are a few things that can lead to a receding gumline. You mentioned the first one– gum disease. I know you said your dentist never told you that you had periodontal disease and therefore you don’t think that is the problem. However, in my experience, not all dentists actually check for this. They should. But not all don’t. I would specifically ask your dentist about the health of your gums the next time you go for a checkup and cleaning. In fact, I would ask him what he checks for regularly so you can make certain things like oral cancer are being covered as well.
If it is not gum disease, here are some other possibilities:
- The bone in the area can be thin or missing. This can cause the gums to recede over time. You can get a gum graft to repair the tissue, but you will want to be certain the you brush gently from now on.
- If you clench or grind your teeth at night, you could have what is known as traumatic occlussion. This can cause notches to develop on your teeth at the gumline. Your gums will recede in this case. You will want to wear a nightguard to protect your teeth and gums from the grinding. Without that, you will eventually grind your teeth down to nubs. The solution to that is a $30k plus full-mouth reconstruction. You want to avoid the need for that at all costs.
- Finally, it could be as simple as you are brushing your teeth too hard. You will also want to make certain you are using a soft toothbrush.
I hope this helps.
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