Family Dentistry: Receding Gums

Receding Gums

Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment for gum disease may include non-surgical and surgical procedures. Healthy gums are the Skin of Your Teeth®. That’s why it is so important to treat gum disease at its earliest stages. Often, gum disease begins with gingivitis. Untreated, gingivitis may progress to more serious forms of gum disease that cause tooth loss and other health problems.A mild case of receding gums may be effectively treated by a professional deep cleaning, also known as tooth scaling and root planning. This type of treatment removes plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth, as well as their roots below the gum line. When plaque is not removed daily with brushing and flossing, it hardens into tartar that can only be removed by a dentist or hygienist. During the deep cleaning, a dental professional also smoothes, or planes, the exposed root area to make it more difficult for bacteria to stick to it.