Gum prolapse (recession) not only damages the aesthetic plan, but also threatens to lose completely healthy teeth. Not to mention that this is a progressive process, because over time it can capture the entire jaw. The cause of this condition is the destruction of bone tissue, which causes exposure of the roots of the teeth, because gum prolapse occurs. We will consider treatment in this article.
Kinds
Gingival recession can be classified according to the following criteria:
- According to the extent of the process, it can be localized (in one tooth), generalized (in several teeth), systemic (covering all teeth).
- Light, medium (3-5 mm), heavy (more than 5 mm) in severity.
- Also, this pathology can be physiological, symptomatic, traumatic. Physiological gum recession affects patients who are over sixty years old.
Recession Causes
To restore the gums, it is necessary to find the cause of the destruction of the bone tissue, otherwise the treatment will be ineffective and the disease will relapse over time. The main reason is the anatomical location of the alveoli. If by nature the thickness of the alveoli is small, then it, undergoing additional pressure when brushing your teeth or eating solid food, becomes even thinner. Periodontal diseases can aggravate this condition : severe gingivitis, periodontitis, periodontal disease.
Inadequate hygiene
The cause of gum prolapse may also be a lack of proper oral hygiene. Remains of food fall into the gingival pocket, which creates a favorable atmosphere for pathogenic microflora. As a result of this, the deepening increases in size, the toxins that bacteria secrete gradually corrode the surrounding soft tissues, including damage to bone, which causes the gums to drop. There may be other factors provoking the development of this disease. For example, incorrect brush movements when brushing your teeth that damage the gums, as well as using an old brush or toothpaste with a large amount of abrasive particles. With the help of dental floss, this condition can also be provoked.
How to treat gum prolapse is interesting to many.
Anomalous structure
In addition, there are cases of abnormal structure of the oral cavity or teeth, as well as malocclusion. Cervical or radical caries, the presence of bad habits (smoking, the habit of biting nails). Also, hormonal disruptions in women, age-related changes in the elderly, vitamin C deficiency and poorly adapted dental structures can be a provocative factor.
The causes and treatment of gum prolapse are often interrelated.
Basically, the disease affects the front incisors and fangs, but in some cases, premolars also suffer. The depth of descent of the gums can be up to seven millimeters. After eliminating the cause that caused the gum to drop, they proceed to the next stage of therapy, the result of which should be the lifting of soft tissues to cover the roots of the teeth.
Symptoms of the disease
At the initial stage of gum prolapse, it is almost impossible to determine. Especially if there is no pain and the gums do not bleed. In this case, a drop of two to three millimeters is imperceptible. But you need to contact your dentist if you notice the following symptoms:
- Reducing the level of the gums by three to five millimeters or more.
- Full or partial exposure of the tooth root.
- The teeth began to respond to hot or cold.
- Carious formations on the roots of teeth.
All this speaks of gum prolapse. What to do?
Treatment
First you need to quit smoking. It is no secret that smoking is the source of many health problems. But in this case, we are interested in exactly the consequences that appear from smoking in the oral cavity. Tobacco strongly affects the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, which causes gingival prolapse. How to raise?
If there is a piercing in the mouth, then it must be removed. Metal trinkets not only damage the teeth, but also cause problems with the gums. The decoration on the tongue or lip will constantly touch the gum, and ultimately omission will occur at this point.
Where to go?
At the first signs of a recession, you must consult a dentist who will conduct an examination and prescribe the appropriate treatment. There are several tricks to put your mouth in order. Often use the lateral flap method. It lies in the fact that healthy tissues from the sky are moved to damaged areas, but the whole problem is that when the jaw is almost intact, this method is difficult.
Collagen membrane
In parallel with surgery, doctors prescribe a course of medications. The advantages of this method include the fact that the effect of treatment is immediately visible and the return of the disease (subject to prophylaxis, of course) is unlikely. Perhaps the use of a collagen membrane. It is installed on the cortical plate of the alveolar bone for tissue regeneration. After the membrane has completed its work, it is removed.
How to raise gum prolapse with folk remedies, we will consider below.
Today, there are membranes made of absorbable material, but they are significantly more expensive. As a result of membrane operation, up to 80% of gum tissue will be restored, the rest remains untreated. The most common option is, of course, drug therapy. This type of treatment allows you to activate the regeneration process by injecting enzymes that trigger the growth of amelogenin (tooth enamel protein). The restoration of connective tissue and tooth roots will begin gradually. At the same time, the gums are treated with an enamel matrix designed to slow down the growth of the disease. The result will have to wait a long time, but in the end, the restored gums will look like the old ones.
Currently, most manufacturers produce a series of toothpastes and brushes specifically for the prevention of gum recession and other problems of this kind. In this case, the brushes are made in a rounded shape, which ensures penetration close to the tooth roots, and the new generation of toothpastes contain an extract of medicinal herbs that help restore damaged gums. In order to enhance the effect of traditional methods, doctors recommend using folk remedies when lowering the gums.
Folk remedies
Of course, decoctions and infusions will not return the gums back, but they can reduce inflammation and accelerate the healing of injuries. The first place, of course, belongs to herbal decoctions for rinsing the mouth. Rinses are brewed from mint, chamomile, lemon balm, yarrow and other plants with anti-inflammatory effect, in the ratio of one tablespoon of crushed dry raw materials to a glass of water. Then you need to boil for 15-20 minutes and cool the broth. Rinse after each meal.
In addition, doctors often recommend tincture of propolis and calamus roots. Prepare it separately and in advance, since the composition must be infused. Take 10 g of propolis and fill them with half a liter of alcohol, leaving in a dark place for two weeks. Crush the roots of calamus and insist on alcohol in the same way as propolis. After two weeks, both tinctures are mixed in a one to one ratio and rinsed three times a day after meals. In this case, rinsing the oral cavity has only an auxiliary effect, it does not cancel visits to the dentist and traditional treatment.
Prevention
With age and due to some other reasons for gum prolapse, you cannot completely avoid it. But this process can be significantly slowed down if you follow the recommendations of the dentist and monitor the oral cavity. Proper oral hygiene prevents the formation of plaque, which is the main cause of gingivitis and other gum diseases. It includes: regular professional toothbrushing at the dentist, daily proper dental care (brushing your teeth twice a day) and using dental floss at home. This helps to get rid of plaque where a toothbrush cannot help. For preventive purposes, doctors advise taking more liquid and soft foods. But at the same time, solid food cannot be completely excluded from the diet, as this leads to tissue atrophy. Food must be thoroughly chewed, it is a kind of gymnastics for the teeth, which strengthens the alveoli. What else to do when lowering the gums?
Proper nutrition
If you do not have an anatomical predisposition to recession, then proper nutrition in this case can play an important role in the implementation of preventive measures for this disease. It is necessary to introduce as many foods as possible containing vitamins E and C. They have antioxidant properties and help strengthen gum tissue. These vitamins contain apples, celery, blueberries, black currants, citrus fruits, broccoli. As we said above, you need to quit smoking, as well as get rid of other bad habits. The point is that you can’t click nuts with your teeth and drink a very hot drink. In addition to all this, if you have the wrong bite and you are going to correct it, then you need to do this with the most gentle methods. And of course, you need to visit the dentist every six months for preventive purposes.
How to raise gum prolapse is now clear.
The right methods of brushing your teeth
Proper tooth brushing is so important for the whole organism as a whole and for the oral cavity in particular, that we will pay special attention to this. It is believed that the best way to brush your teeth is to use the Bass method. With this method, the bristles are removed a millimeter below the gum line and the plaque that forms there is removed. In addition, such a cleaning does not injure the gums, but rather massages them. It is necessary to tilt the head of the toothbrush at an angle of 45 degrees with the gum line. If you make a movement in this order, then the gums are not injured when cleaning. It is necessary to do careful circular movements with a brush. At one place it is necessary to make at least twenty circular motions and only then move on to other surfaces. Then you need to move on to the chewing teeth, here you should do reciprocating movements with a brush in the horizontal direction.