Can I "regrow" receeding gums?

**Mayberry** · 02-24-2010 08:19 PM

My gums have started receeding over the last couple of years. I think this may be partly due to wear from brushing as the worst spots on my top teeth are above the two canines, but on my bottom teeth all the front teeth have reduced gums. I also think extended illness and medical treatments may have contributed to my receeding gums.

I can live with it as is if I have to, since my bottom gums are hidden when I speak or smile, but if my top gums receed any further I probably won't feel confident to smile, so I'd like to do something about it now before it gets worse.

Does anyone know if there's any way to regrow gums? Do any particular foods promote gum growth/health? Any tips at all would be much appreciated!

**kira** · 02-24-2010 08:44 PM

I don't think so. You can help stop it by improving both your overall health and dental hygiene but I don't think you can make gums come back naturally. You can get skin grafts for it. My mom had it done. They take skin from elsewhere in your mouth and put it over your exposed teeth. It's difficult to eat anything for awhile and if you eat the wrong things too soon you can damage it so they have to redo it. It can be dangerous for your teeth and health to leave it like that though.

I'd suggest talking to a dentist and then a nutritionist. It might help your other health problems too. Improved nutrition always helps and dental problems have been shown to both cause and result from many other health issues.

**Mayberry** · 02-25-2010 03:36 AM

Thanks for your reply, kira. Last time I went to a dentist, I can't remember exactly what he said, but he didn't seem to think it was a problem (and it hasn't gotten worse since then, as far as I can tell.) But I might take your advice to see a nutritionist, since as you say the teeth/gums are linked to your overall health.

I've been meaning to try brushing lightly, but I worry that means my teeth won't be as clean. Can anyone comment on that?

**CHANDLERS WISH** · 02-25-2010 03:46 AM

Mayberry, receeding gums is periodontis desease, forget cleanliness, it's a gum desease that results in loss of bone. This loss creates no options you can not get bone to replace it to create strength, you lose a tooth or a few, and dentures come into play.

It is a thought combined from hereditory, smoking, and stress or all three.

Only cleaning the teeth can prevent this and if too late, too late.

Please don't listen to the dentist who said, nothing wrong .. Go and seek a dentist who specialises in this.

CW

**Mayberry** · 02-25-2010 05:33 PM

CW, thank you... I will definitely make an effort and go see a dentist who will help me with that now that I know it's serious. As much as it sounds scary, it seems it's important for me to do something about it now rather than ignore it thinking it's ok.

*sigh* If I had a genie in a bottle, one of my three wishes would be spent on fixing my teeth! It's one of the things people most notice about others, so I want them to be good!