How to prevent gum recession

If poor oral hygiene is a top cause of gum recession, it stands to reason that diligent oral hygiene is one of the most important things in the prevention of mouth and dental illnesses, including gum recession. Don’t forget one of the most basic ways to help prevent receding gums: teeth cleaning.

The following steps can help you both stop receding gums and prevent them before the occurrence of gum loss:

1. Brush your teeth twice a day. To stop and prevent receding gums, teeth cleaning is essential. Ensuring to follow the correct toothbrushing steps for two minutes twice a day will help you to remove plaque and bacteria and to reduce the risk of infections.
   
   
2. Use the right toothbrush. A sonic toothbrush such as the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean, together with the G3 Premium Gum Care Brush Head, removes bacterial plaque efficiently while being gentle to your gums.
   
   
3. Floss daily. You may think that flossing isn’t essential, but flossing once a day is an important way to remove plaque, bacteria and debris from interdental spaces.⁵
   
   Tip: If you don’t like to floss, you could opt for an interdental brush instead or a specialist product such as the Philips Power Flosser.
   
   
4. Clean your tongue. Removing the bacterial tongue covering with a tongue brush or scraper is an effective way of slowing the production of plaque and protecting your mouth from gum loss.
   
   
5. Use mouthwash. Once a day you should use an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash to fight bacteria in your mouth. It can reach every area of your mouth, helping to flush out bacteria from your tongue, interdental spaces, and the surface of your teeth.
   
   
6. Visit your dentist regularly. The exact amount you need to see your dentist will vary depending on your circumstances, but most people with good oral health should be getting a check-up every year or two.⁶ In addition, we recommend having your teeth professionally cleaned as this is an effective defence against the bacteria which cause gum erosion.

In addition to rigorous oral hygiene, you should consider the following in order to stop and prevent a receding gum line:

• Maintain a healthy diet. We all love a treat, but reducing sugary and acidic food and drink such as fruit juice and sweets will help to slow the build-up of plaque and help protect your teeth and gums.
• Increase your intake of vitamins. Vitamins and minerals are key to good overall health and can help to promote good oral health too, in particular vitamin D⁷ and calcium.⁸
• Reduce or quit smoking. Smoking promotes gum diseases and damages your oral and physical health. Reducing how much you smoke will help, but quitting is best!

Don’t wait too long if you think you are suffering from gum recession, even if you’ve only spotted receding gums on one tooth. We can give a general overview of gum conditions, but it’s important to contact your dentist for an expert opinion.

Sources:
¹ Gingival recession: causes and treatment, JADA 138(10), 1404.
² Jati et al., Gingival recession: its causes and types, and the importance of orthodontic treatment, Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics 21(3), 18–29.
³ Gum disease, NHS inform.
⁴ Malhotra et al., Nicotine and periodontal tissues, Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology 14(1), 72–79.
⁵ Why should I use dental floss?, NHS.
⁶ Dental check-ups, NHS.
⁷ Botelho et al., Vitamin D deficiency and oral health: a comprehensive review, Nutrients 12(5), 1471.
⁸ Krall et al., Calcium and vitamin D supplements reduce tooth loss in the elderly, American Journal of Medicine 111(6), 452–456.