An ounce of prevention is worth way more than a pound of cure, at least when it comes to dental work. Dental decay is the most common dental condition, but do you know what is a close second? Gum issues including receding gums. And do you know what’s even crazier? Receding gums affects nearly all of the population at some point. In a recent study, the prevalence of gum recession in the population was 64%, but nearly 100% at ages over 80. That’s a lot of gums receding. In this article, we’ll talk about how to stop receding gums from getting worse, and any natural remedies for receding gums.

How to Stop Receding Gums from Getting Worse

If you’re asking how to stop receding gums from getting worse, the solution is simple. You nip it in the bud.

In other words, you need to understand the causes of gum recession. Then you can make the appropriate corrections.

So without further ado, let’s hit home the key causes of receding gums.  In no particular order, here are the most common receding gum causes:

With that being said, let me give you the bottom line. Gum recession doesn’t just happen coincidently.

There is always an underlying cause. Once you find the cause, it needs to be eliminated. That’s the simple and most basic way to understand how to stop receding gums from getting worse.

And you shouldn’t think that you have to come up with the solution all on your own. Talk with your dentist. They will usually have suggestions for what’s causing your gums to recede. At the very least, if you stop the progression, that’s a win.

Why You Need to Think of Receding Gum Causes in Three Categories

How to Stop Receding Gums from Getting Worse & the three categories

So in the last section, I gave you a list of the common causes of gum recession. Most people that go to the dentist probably have had this list rattled off to them of what’s causing their gum recession. But what good is that? You need to know what to do next.

Here’s what I want you to know about gum recession causes. All gum recession is caused by three categories of causes. Receding gums are caused by Bacteria, chronic mechanical force, and genetics.

You will notice that 2 of the three are controllable—only genetics is not. So what does that mean?

There is hope. You can make some changes to prevent your gums from receding more.

Let’s look dig in at what you can do and explore natural remedies for receding gums. We’ll focus on prevention in the rest of the article, not necessarily treatment. If you’re interested in receding gums treatment, check out this article.

Natural Remedies for Receding Gums

When you read an article about natural remedies for receding gums, you’re probably looking for things you can do to the gums. Come on doc, tell me what I can put on the gums to prevent surgery, right?

Well news flash, it’s even easier than that. Instead of adding a natural remedy or treatment, the best natural remedy is removing irritants from the gums.

The most effective natural remedy for receding gums is less about what you can do, and more about what you can avoid.

Allow me to explain.

Natural Remedies for Receding Gums Caused by Bacteria

One of the most common causes of receding gums is periodontal disease. Essentially bacteria accumulate under the gumline, cause inflammation, and eventually, the gums attempt to recede away from the plaque. Hence, gum recession caused by bacteria.

So what’s the best natural remedy? Reduce the amount of plaque and bacteria at the gumline. No chemicals or surgery needed.

Simply have an evaluation with your dentist and make sure you are up to date with your regular cleanings. If you have excessive plaque below the gum line, your dentist may recommend a deep cleaning to remove the bacteria and allow your gums to heal stronger. Thus, reducing further gum recession.

But it doesn’t stop there. If you’re asking for the real natural remedies for receding gums, you have to take accountability at home too. It’s all about our daily habits. And yes, again it’s more about what you can eliminate from your lifestyle than what you can add. Here are some good habits to reduce the chance of your gums receding:

  • Avoid cigarette smoking
  • Limit alcohol use
  • Maintain a well-balanced diet
  • Stay hydrated
  • Control systemic conditions like diabetes
  • Practice brush and floss consistently
  • Ask your dentist for a prescription receding gums mouthwash such as Chlorhexidine
  • Maintain routine dental checkups at least every 6 months.

Natural Remedies for Receding Gums Caused by Mechanical Force

So we all know that brushing twice daily is important. But have you ever heard the expression, “too much of a good thing is not good?” That applies here.

Since we know that excessive force on the teeth can create receding gums, the best natural remedy is to avoid taxing the gums around the teeth. Here’s some things you can do:

  • Toss out that hard bristle manual toothbrush and trade it for a power soft bristle toothbrush
  • If you are prone to recession, discuss it with your orthodontist if you are considering Invisalign or Braces
  • Keep your teeth grinding and clenching in check

All three of the above points have one thing in common. They all cause physical force on the teeth. And when the teeth are torqued under excessive force, where do you think that strain goes?

To the bone and the gums that hold the tooth.

Therefore, if you reduce excessive forces on your teeth, you’ll naturally reduce the chance of receding gums.

Talk with you dentist about each of these points. They will have recommendations for you and suggestions for what you can easily alter in your lifestyle to reduce the force on your teeth.

Most dentists will suggest a electric toothbrush. If you’re wondering which brand, it doesn’t matter a whole lot. There isn’t a specific best toothbrush for receding gums, however, the Phillips Sonic Care and Oral-B electric brushes are usually the most commonly recommended by dentists.

Oh and about the teeth grinding and clenching. That’s a bit more complicated to control. Speak with you dentist about possible causes and solutions. If they are not sure, your dentist may refer you to a TMJ specialist who will have more knowledge of how to prevent the bruxism from causing further issues.

Is There a Receding Gums Toothpaste?

receding gums toothpaste & best toothbrush for receding gums

The short answer is no.

At this time there isn’t a receding gums toothpaste that specifically designed to improve gum recession. There are some toothpastes that have some fancy marketing about lathering deeper under the gums compared to regular toothpaste, but at this point, I cannot recommend them more than others. The studies simply are not conclusive that these toothpastes will have a significant effect in improving gum recession.

So what do you need to know?

Choose a toothpaste for gum recession that contains fluoride, and choose a toothpaste that is not designed for teeth whitening.

The whitening toothpastes have hydrogen perioxide which can be an irritant to the gums. Whitening ingredients will not cause recession if used occasionally, but over time it might cause more recession than if you chose another toothpaste.

The Bottom Line: How to Stop Receding Gums from Getting Worse

If you’re reading an article like this, Bravo. I should shake your hand because you get it. It’s all about prevention.

The best natural remedy for receding gums is to eliminate as many of the causes as possible. If you can do only a few things, you will get the most impact by avoiding smoking, stay hydrated, brush routinely but not too hard, and maintain routine dental checkups every 6 months.

So there you have it, a deep look at how to stop receding gums from getting worse. Keep up the good work and I congratulate your efforts on prevention. Your gums will thank you later.