Your gums integrate your teeth and the bones they grow in with your biologic system, providing nutrients and natural support. If your gums become diseased and unhealthy, your teeth and whole health will suffer as a result.

Proper maintenance of your gum health includes learning how gum disease develops, so you can commit to the preventative care and healthy habits you need to avoid it.

What is gum recession?
Gum recession occurs gradually, so you might not notice it at first. If you notice that a tooth looks longer than normal, new sensitivity, or a notch near the gum line, schedule a dental visit to have it examined.

What causes gum recession?
Gum recession typically occurs when dental plaque is allowed to build up around a tooth and isn’t removed by brushing, flossing, and regular dental hygiene visits. In some cases, overly-aggressive brushing can cause gum recession.

What happens if gum recession is ignored?
If gums recede severely, some of the tooth’s root will be exposed. This can make the tooth sensitive to hot or cold temperatures and prone to root decay.

With time and lack of attention, further loss of bone attachment to the root may lead to loosening and eventual loss of the tooth.

Gum recession can’t be reversed, but a gum grafting procedure can stop further recession at a specific site to protect your oral health.

VIDEO: GINGIVAL RECESSION

What is gum disease?
Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, is the disease of gum tissue that surrounds a tooth. Diseased gums bleed easily when touched, and can emit a foul odour.

What causes gum disease?
With a lack of home and professional oral hygiene, a biofilm of bacteria called dental plaque builds up at the gum line. Bacteria in the dental plaque release toxins that the body reacts to causing an inflammation of the gums.

VIDEO: GINGIVITIS

Preventative care at home
Dental plaque is the main cause of periodontal disease, so it's essential to remove it every day with effective brushing and flossing.

Regular dental hygiene visits
Gum disease develops in areas that brushing and flossing can’t reach, so regular dental hygiene visits and examinations are absolutely essential.

Diet and healthy habits
For a gum- and tooth-friendly diet, limit sugar and avoid foods that accelerate dental plaque and tooth decay. Give your family a head start with our healthy snack guide.

Tobacco usage in any form (smoking, vaping, or chewing) is bad for your gums and teeth. It also increases the risk of developing oral cancer. Avoid it to improve your whole health!

Conquer your fear of the dentist
It’s normal to have dental anxiety, especially if you’ve had difficulty accessing safe or affordable dental care.

To help everyone access the dental care they need, we offer free sedation dentistry and flexible payment plans.

What is periodontitis?
If allowed to advance further, gum disease leads to periodontitis, which is further inflammation of the tissues surrounding the teeth. Periodontitis results in shrinkage of the gums, loss of bony support, and eventually complete tooth loss.

What causes periodontitis?
A lack of oral hygiene over an extended period of time, leading to gum disease that remains untreated, will eventually lead to periodontitis. Don’t let this happen to you!

VIDEO: PERIODONTITIS

Don’t give up!
Oral health affects your whole health, and this is especially critical for people with gum disease.

Sadly, many people in this situation give up on their oral health — when regular dental care and treatments can still help them avoid the worst possible whole health outcomes.

Periodontal therapies
Some of the damage caused by gum disease can be repaired to preserve the remaining teeth and bone support or mitigate further deterioration.

Common treatments include: gum grafting, periodontal plastic surgery, and crown lengthening surgery. Contact us to learn more.

Even if periodontitis leads to tooth loss, full or partial dentures allow you to keep a healthy and varied diet — essential to maintaining overall health.