Really anxious about receding gums

[opalescent]

My gums have receded terrible above my back upper molars. I am 37 and really careful about dental hygiene. I am very careful around the gum line, use a water flosser, gengigel mouthrinse, and see my hygienist regularly. My dentist never seems overly concerned 😳 but I can see for myself that it's quite extreme.

I think the recession is caused by night time cleaning and grinding. I have never really suffered with symptoms until the last few weeks, when my teeth do feel sensitive and a bit uncomfortable. I am applying sensitive toothpaste to try and sort that out.

I am determined to sort it out when dentists are open again, and have been reading up on the options for gum surgery, including the pinhole technique?

Just wondered if anyone can sympathise-and possibly offer any advice?

[opalescent]

(Awful) picture to illustrate!

[Bloomburger]

Get some night guards made up to address the grinding. You can put sensitive toothpaste in them and apparently it helps.

Do you use an electric toothbrush? If not get one of the ones that stop you pressing too hard.

[opalescent]

Thank you bloomburger, I do religiously wear a night guard. I will look into getting a toothbrush with a sensor for pressure too

[DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon]

Recession is a natural part of aging, everyones gums will recede somewhat. There are 2 reasons why someone will have more recession than others 1) trauma - brushing/dentures/picking guma 2) anatomical - thin gums, prominant areas. Normally its a combination of both

Grinding wont cause recession, however i would check the fit of your bite gaurd, as a poorly fitting gaurd could traumatise youe gums and cause recession.

With your brushing technique you need to apply very little pressure, plaque is soft and teeth are hard so it is a gentle sweeping circular motion, not a scrub. You would definitely benefit from an electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor.

Recession isnt really something that needs sorting as such, if you are worried you can go down the root of surgery however whilst you do have some recession its not particularly extreme and i would try using sensitive toothpastes and working on brushing technique before considering surgery.

[DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon]

Surgery is a lot for a bit of posterior recession

Another thing is i probably would swap to usual floss. I have tried a water flosser and they are very powerful, that could be causing some trauma to your gums. Normal floss is the ideal for someone to clean interdentally if they have no spaces or gum disease.

You have really healthy looking gums. If you have gum disease water flossers can be good for people with pocketing, but i would avoid them if you are prone to recession.

Im just going off my own opinion and experience here, I dont have evidence but I do know that normal floss will definitely cause no harm

[opalescent]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply Dish- I really appreciate your advice. Perhaps the water flosser is too much. I'll lay off it for a couple of weeks and see how it goes.

[opalescent]

It's actually quite a relief to hear you refer to it as 'a bit of posterior recession', I'm assuming that means it's not absolutely dreadful? I have a clearer picture now

[DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon]

Its really not dreadful OP! Its honestly just a bit of recession.

Its only a problem where its causing sensitivity, but theres ways of dealing with sensitivity way before surgery. When dentists are open get your hygenist to demonstrate brushing technique and like I said a pressure sensor electric toothbrush.

If you are going to use a manual make sure its soft bristles. Curaprox do really good soft bristled toothbrushes, or sensodyne do a simple soft bristled toothbrush as well. The simpler the better

But dont get worried about it!

[fretnot]

I suffered from recession for a good while in my 30s, and my gums could get inflamed and tender with it, too. I was told it was over-brushing causing it, which just made me afraid to brush my teeth (even with pressure-sensitive electric brush), and didn’t really help!

What made the difference for me was instruction to use interdental brushes and regular old flossing. I hate the faff of flossing (esp as I now have braces) but my more recent dentist told me that in her experience water flossers are not as good, because of biofilms that build up at contact points between teeth. (I hadn’t heard about how harsh they can be - that’s interesting, as I do use one regularly for the brace).

My recession is totally resolved now. All the best OP as I know how crummy it can make you feel!

[fikel]

I prefer a manual to an electric toothbrush as I found my gums receded using an electric

[opalescent]

@fretnot thank you for sharing this. I feel much better to know that others have had this in their 30s too! I think I will stop using the water flosser, now I come to think of it I do think my sensitivity has increased since using it!

[allypally999]

Mine is much worse than that and still no surgery required here. It happened very suddenly (in my 40s I think) and then hasn't gotten any worse really. My dentist monitors it. As regards the grinding try a mouthguard which your dentist will make to fit you. They take a bit getting used to but they do work. I have earplugs which stopped me doing it altogether but that company went bust. If it is stress you could try anti-depressants?

[opalescent]

Ally pally I think I read about the earplugs, what a shame the company went bust? I take it they have really worked for you?
In what way is your recession worse? I feel like the gum above my molar looks about as far up as it could get! I will post a clearer photo.

Thank you for replying 😊

[opalescent]

Much clearer

[allypally999]

Well mine are at the front (bottom mostly) so pretty obvious and one in particular is very bad. Dentist says they would have to recede a lot more before we were looking at skin grafts which I don't fancy. They measure them every time I go and have stayed the same for years.

Yes it sounds mad but the ear things did work almost right away. I don't use them anymore but they are made to fit so no use to anyone else. Maybe someone else will do them again. They didn't suit everyone but did the trick for me after I struggled with various mouth guards.

[Hipsterjoe]

Are you on the pill? It’s a side effect

[opalescent]

Yes I am on the pill and have been for ages! I had no idea!