Can Receding Gums Grow Back Naturally?

Do gums grow back? The quick answer is yes. However, you must catch the gum recession in its beginning stages before it becomes more severe and turns into periodontitis or advanced periodontitis.

If and when it has reached this stage, the gums will not grow back and gum recession is irreversible. You may be wondering what these stages are. Well, the first stage consists of a mild gum recession without notable bone loss or tissue between teeth.

In the second stage, the gum recedes toward what is called the attached or loose gingiva border without bone loss or tissue between teeth. During the third stage, the root is partially covered and the gum recedes beyond the attached gingiva, showing notable bone loss and tissue. The last stage is severe gum recession, and the root is uncovered with serious bone and tissue loss.

Receding gums can be caused by a number of factors. The most common include tobacco, teeth grinding, genetics, gingiva disorders, piercing, bad oral hygiene, vigorous brushing, or a change in hormones. The most common cause is gum disease. However, there is good news. There are natural remedies for growing back receding gums and many of them you already use daily.

Your diet may not have much to do with your receding gums, but it can affect your oral health. It is important that you have a high calcium and antioxidant intake. The real issue lies in individuals visiting the dentist too late and miss the opportunity to improve their oral health, making receding gums harder to treat. Still, there are ways to stop the progression of receding gums and natural remedies to promote gum growth.

There are natural home remedies that promote gum growth and we’ve compiled a quick list for you:

• Aloe vera – aloe vera is packed with anti-inflammatory goodness which is critical for gum restoration. Its antibacterial properties can prevent infection. When addressing receding gums, aloe vera is best applied in gel form and can easily be added to your toothbrush after normal brushing. Once you’ve completed brushing, you should wash your mouth out or you can mix the gel with the water and create a mouthwash.

• Green tea – green tea is full of antioxidants and strengthens gums by reinforcing the connection between the teeth and gums. Additionally, green tea is overflowing with anti-inflammatory benefits that reduce gum swelling and inflammation. Simply make a cup of tea and enjoy!
• Coconut oil – This versatile oil helps to fight against bacteria and diseases and extremely effective at promoting gum growth. Place the coconut in your mouth and swish for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Eucalyptus – this herb gets rid of unwanted germs and offers anti-inflammatory benefits. Before placing on gums, it must be diluted first. After mixing with water, gently apply to gums.
• Take vitamins – Growing up, your parents probably always told you to take vitamins. Turns out, they may have been onto something.

While going all natural is always a great way to improve your health, there are medical procedures available to help your gums grow back.

These are less enjoyable but may provide faster results:

• Bone graft – this medical procedure is necessary when atrophy of the jawbone takes place as a result of bacterial infection. It involves taking bone from other portions of the body (jaw, hip, tibia) to promote bone growth near the gums.
• Soft tissue graft – this is a less complicated and simple medical procedure that transfers tissue from other areas of the mouth to address the exposed areas of the receding gums. This is a long-term solution that only needs simple treatment for pain.

Other less invasive options available are scaling and regular deep cleaning where a dental hygienist cleans your teeth deep using a pick. Do not try this at home but leave this to the professionals. You could do more harm than good if you do.

If you have any questions about these procedures or wondering whether your gums will grow back, connect with us at Gables Sedation & Family Dentistry and we will help you get your smile back!