[boysareboys]

what is the best treatment for receding gums? I brush 2x per day, floss 1x per day and use Listerine but have noticed some receding gums in the back of my mouth. I do go to the dentist 2x per year, but am not due to go back for a few more months. The last time I went he did say I have a touch of gingivitis and to continue the treatment I was using, but I didn't know if there is something else I should do in the meantime...

[johndoe99]

I was diagnosed with receding gums 2 years ago, they are caused by two things, either brushing your teeth too hard or gum disease. In my case I was brushing to hard and I was not flossing properly allowing tartar to build up. My dentist also told me to use Colgate Fluorigard mouthwash, and when I mentioned Listerine, I was told that Listerine was too strong for the gums (but that's her opinion).

In extreme cases graphs of skin can be removed from your gums and applied to the recessive areas (mine are not bad yet, thank god as I've seen videos of the procedure).

[flossie]

The first thing you have to do is figure out why they are receding. Like johndoe said you may be brushing too hard, you may also be clenching and grinding your teeth. Another cause of recession is if you had gum disease and your mouth is now healthy the gums have tightened up and shrunk back which can cause some root exposure.

Make sure you are using a soft toothbrush and not scrubbing or brushing in circles, floss below the gumline every day and rinse with a good antibacterial rinse like Crest ProHealth.