Take a moment to look at your smile in the mirror. Is the cuff of gum tissue at the base of each tooth pink, firm and nicely contoured, or has it pulled back to leave longer-than-usual looking crowns or reveal the yellower uppermost portion of the root? If the latter is true, it’s evidence of receding gums. At the office of Dr. David Heering, we specialize in the prevention and treatment of gum recession as well as all conditions affecting the health and appearance of the hard and soft tissues supporting the teeth.

1) What causes the gums to recede?

There are several factors that can cause your gums to recede, including:

• Inadequate oral hygiene practices and infrequent dental care, which results in a buildup of dental plaque and tartar that leads to periodontal disease.
• Aggressive tooth brushing habits
• Genetics
• The changing hormone levels associated with such things as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause
• Smoking and tobacco habits
• Bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching)
• Crowding or a misaligned bite

2) Why it’s essential to get professional care

While gum recession exposes more vulnerable areas of the tooth and may result in sensitivity to hot and cold, it can also progress without any symptoms of discomfort. Because it occurs so gradually and painlessly, many people aren’t even aware of a problem.

In these cases, the only clue that a periodontal problem is present is that the teeth start to look unnaturally long and unattractive. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to contact our office for the care required to restore your oral health. If left untreated, gum recession can further damage the hard and soft tissue support of teeth, lead to decay on the roots of the teeth, as well as compromise the overall health and appearance of your smile.

3) How to protect the health of your smile

As skilled and experienced providers of care, you can rest assured that your smile is in the best of hands at our office. We’ll determine the best course of care to reduce and eliminate factors that are causing your gum recession.

We offer the most advanced and effective non-surgical and surgical periodontal procedures to help you protect the health of your smile, halt the progression of gum disease, and regenerate lost tissue as possible around the teeth.  

At the office of Dr. David Heering, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate care. For more information on our office and the many services that we provide, give us a call today at 609.588.8222 or request an appointment online.