Prevention of gingival recession

Regular and correctly performed oral hygiene is the best way to remove bacterial plaque. This is the most important approach to preventing gingivitis, and thus also periodontitis.

Optimal oral hygiene at home should also always prevent gingival recession from developing and be adapted over the course of life as necessary. It is very important to know your own method of optimal oral hygiene, to learn it and to use it regularly.

An illustration of the standard techniques can be found online at www.oralhygiene-instruction.com under the quick display “AC”.

Optimal oral hygiene at home is always adapted individually over the course of life. It can therefore differ greatly from person to person. Optimisation is particularly advisable where gingival recession is already present.

The dental practice can give proper instruction in optimal oral hygiene. In many cases, it is recommended to clean areas with gingival recession using a sweeping movement of the toothbrush. The bristles are drawn gently several times from the gum margin across the exposed root surfaces.

An illustration of various techniques and aids for existing gingival recession can be found online at www.oralhygiene-instruction.com under the quick display “G”.

Regular check-ups with the dentist make it possible to intervene professionally as early as possible, should this be necessary.

If gingival recession is detected early and the necessary measures are started early, further exposure of tooth roots can be successfully prevented.

The goal should remain to keep your own teeth into old age. “One check-up too many is better than one treatment too few!”

After gum treatment, long-term success over several years is only ensured if patients practise optimal oral hygiene at home and thereby prevent, every day, gingival recession from developing or their gums from becoming inflamed due to new bacterial plaque.

For optimal long-term success, it is also important to maintain continuous professional long-term care with the dental hygienist or prophylaxis assistant, so that any recurring problems can be detected and dealt with in good time.

Non-smokers and former smokers have less loss of the structures holding their teeth than smokers and therefore show gingival recession less often.

After stopping smoking, the gums need some time to recover from tobacco use. A few years after stopping, former smokers also respond considerably better to gum treatment. In addition, surgical treatment of gingival recession can only be carried out in non-smokers or former smokers.