Receding Gums - advice?

[daisychicken]

I have a receding gum line. It's very likely hereditary as my Dad has it in the same pattern as does his Dad and brothers but I also grind my teeth at night. I do have a mouth guard to protect my teeth. I also have fibromyalgia, CFS and osteoarthritis. I take various medications, I don't know if they will affect my teeth.

I've spoken to my dentist but always come away feeling she wasn't interested nor helpful.

I've done some research and I know I have to be gentle when cleaning my teeth but is there anything else I can do to slow the progression and protect my teeth/gum line?

Yes!!! Get yourself some Gingigel gel and rub it in every night. You could use it twice a day or more if you want as it’s totally natural. I just do it once a day in the evening and it honestly works. It takes time but it’s bloody amazing stuff.

@sheahootssheimplores is that not just for bleeding gums? I don't have bleeding gums or inflammation just the receding gum

Gums naturally receded with age, how everoverbrushing and a history of gum disease can cause excessive recession.

It's very dependent on the the type of gum you have, your teeth etc but generally all you can really do is brush them using the 'correct technique', sweeping circles making sure not to scrub. Using a soft toothbrush or an electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor to ensure you are being gentle, you can ask your dentist to demonstrate it next time or the hygienist if you visit them. They receed because you overbrush them, your family probably has naturally thin gums, sadly some people are just prone to it and the only real thing you can do is be gentle

Otherwise your only option is to look into surgery which can recreate the gum with lining from elsewhere in the mouth, which is sometimes possible

My dentist suggested brushing with warm water rather than cold. Don't know if it will make any difference but might be worth a try. (obviously depends on your hot water system whether or not you use it straight from the tap)

Change dentists to one with the best reviews. They will probably advise root planing, should take one hour for each side of the mouth. It's not too bad but the numbing up is something else... 💉

daisy I think it does say that as part of its blurb yes. My gums occasionally bleed but most of my gum recession has come from bad brushing technique when I was younger. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to turn the clock back and would be forced to have an expensive gun graft in ten or so years. But this gel has honestly been life changing for me.

If you’re unconvinced just read the reviews on Amazon.

Gingigel is a fantastic product. I use the rinse.

Thank you for your replies. It sounds like gingigel is worth a try if just to keep the gum line I still have healthy.

Root planing sounds horrible Duster but I will ask my dentist again about the best way to look after my gums from now on. My Dentist practice does have good reviews and up until now, I've never been unhappy with the care I've received from them.

I had a brace aged 30 to sort a bit of my receding gum issue. The way it was explained to me is that my teeth were leaning, like trees exposing their roots, and if they could be straightened up then less root/gum exposed. No idea if total quackery but it seems to have slowed the recession.
Worth a chat with an orthodontist?

Keep flossing. Use sensodyne or similar because the exposed tooth could be more sensitive without this.

Root planing only useful if the reason your gums have receded is due to periodontal disease, and poor oral hygiene.
It is not recommended or necessary for just simple recession. Recession can usually happen for no apparent reason, sometimes as you get older, it can be heredity, an anatomical feature of the shape of your mouth, it can be due to incorrect brushing as well. Normally it is self limiting.

Book an appointment with Hygienist to get advice on best practice brushing techniques.

If you are really concerned and notice it getting increasingly worse in a short space of time, request a referral to a specialist periodontist

I should have asked OP if you see a hygienist regularly? I am really particular at making sure I see mine every 4 months. Normally twice a year is absolutely fine though.

I see my dentist every 6 months and she does do a clean each time but I've never seen a hygienist nor had my dentist suggested I see one. Should I ask about that?

Absolutely!!!!’n

Ok, thank you. I will have a chat at my next check up in a couple of weeks.