Having the soft tissue of your gums recede is something that naturally happens with the process of aging. Gum grafting is the treatment necessary when some of those cases are worse than others. Gum recession changes the visual perception of your smile since it takes your teeth to gum ratio out of balance. Even more importantly it can have oral health implications. Receding gums will expose the root of the tooth. The hard surface enamel protecting the crown is absent on the exposed root, resulting in elevated sensitivity and bone loss. It can even result in the eventual loss of that tooth. Gum grafts are common, recommended, and beneficial. Your recovery and healing process will depend on your personal ability to heal, the actual amount of grafting being done, the source of the grafting tissue and your self-control when it comes to following recovery instructions.
Causes that Accelerate Gum Recession
Gum grafting can be necessary for some adults and not for others because of the result of periodontal or gum disease. This is quite often the result of an accumulation of plaque on the teeth which is the sole source of gum infection. Your poor oral hygiene may not have kept up with the plaque. Smoking tobacco is hard on your gum tissue and so is diabetes. Your genetics can influence the oral health of your gums and even your toothbrushing techniques can contribute to gum recession. By brushing too aggressively with a stiff bristle toothbrush you will accelerate gum erosion.
The Gum Grafting Procedure
A common and simple process, the area to be repaired will initially be numbed with a local anesthetic. Then your dentist has three easy sources for the tissue. They will often take tissue from your palette or the roof of your mouth. Sometimes there is even excess soft tissue available in your gum itself and the third source could be a tissue bank. The grafting tissue is sutured into place, and so is the source site. Your primary objective in the healing process to protect the sutures.
The Recovery or Healing from Gum Grafting
You will need to follow strict instructions for a week or two. That will be when your follow-up examination is scheduled to review your healing process. During the first week you will NOT brush your teeth anywhere close to the suture sites. You will experience some soreness and discomfort for a day or two post-surgery. It will be important to maintain a diet of softer foods and to minimize biting and chewing. It will also be suggested you watch food and drink temperatures, favoring cold food and drink. In two short weeks, you will be allowed to brush again, and the gums will be totally healed inside of a month.
The Benefits of Gum Grafting
A beneficial health implication is saving your teeth through minimizing bone loss. There is also the value of your smile that is quite often overlooked or even taken for granted. Gum grafting restores your teeth to gum ration back to proper perspective. A healthy smile impacts so much about your life. It is the basic foundation for your self-esteem and self-confidence. Listen to your dentist in establishing good oral hygiene habits.
