Gum Recession From Over Brushing, or “gums pulling back”, also known as “gingival recession” can naturally occur with age.

However if your dentist points out gum recession in your mouth, it may be because it is more pronounced than normal for your age group and there is one very important thing you can do to try and prevent it from getting worse.

If your dentist has performed a check-up and ruled out gum disease or abnormal tooth positioning as a cause, one of the biggest causes of early gum recession is over-brushing with a hard toothbrush.  Believe it or not, brushing too vigorously can cause the gums to recede, exposing the roots of teeth which can lead to severe sensitivity and increased tooth decay.

Therefore when brushing, it is extremely important to make sure you are using the softest toothbrush you can possibly buy, and maintain gentle pressure when brushing the gumline.

Remember those tv ads that showed the toothbrush on a tomato?

That’s exactly the amount of pressure you want to have when brushing your teeth and gums.  Liken your gums to the surface of a ripe tomato.  You don’t want to see the bristles flexing much at all, and certainly don’t want to be bruising the surface.  If you use an electric toothbrush, the same applies.  Be mindful not to press too hard.  Some electric brushes have a built-in mechanism that will alert you if you are applying too much pressure.

So if you already have some gum recession,or are in the habit of using a hard toothbrush, please think about your gums and switch to an ultra-soft or electric brush, and remember to brush gently!

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