Your gums. They play a vital role in dental function and your oral health. Not only do they help anchor teeth in the jaw, the gums also protect tooth roots from disease.
But you can lose that protective covering if your gums recede or shrink back from the teeth. An exposed tooth is more susceptible to decay, and more sensitive to temperature and pressure.
Lets take a look at some gum recession causes…
Genetics
Your parents genes effect the thickness of your gums. Babies born with thinner gums tend to be more susceptible to recession through toothbrush abrasion, wear, and/or injury. For those who have thinner gum tissue, you should take extra precautions.
Gum disease
The most common cause for gum recession is a bacterial infection called periodontal (gum) disease that most often arises from plaque, a thin film of bacteria and food particles accumulating on teeth. Gum disease in turn weakens the gums causes them to recede.
Solution: Reduce your risk for a gum infection through daily brushing and flossing to remove disease-causing plaque.
Aggressive hygiene
Too much force applied while brushing can eventually result in gum damage that leads to recession and tooth wear. Let the gentle, mechanical action of the toothbrush bristles and toothpaste abrasives do the work of plaque removal. Do not apply too much pressure!
The best action to battle gum recession is prevention!