How do you recognise gum recession early, and which habits can inadvertently make the problem worse?

Gum recession often creeps up quietly. In many cases you notice nothing at first. Only later do recognisable signs appear: teeth that are more sensitive to cold, heat or sweet things, or a visibly longer tooth line because the root has become exposed. That exposed root also increases the risk of cavities right at the neck of the tooth, a spot that is harder to protect than enamel. Regular check-ups with your dentist are the most reliable way to detect recession early, because the dentist measures with specific clinical parameters such as pocket depth, gum height and the ratio between crown width and length. You yourself often do not see the early recession until it is already fairly advanced.

How aggressively you brush makes a difference. Several studies found a link between horizontal scrubbing along the teeth, hard bristles and the use of a regular manual toothbrush on the one hand, and recession on the other. A meta-analysis showed that people who used an electric toothbrush for twelve months had less recession than users of a manual toothbrush. An observational study of 181 young adults confirmed that the electric brush also caused less visible gum damage immediately after brushing. Note, however, that the evidence for direct causality is not yet conclusive here, and one Turkish clinical study found no link with how long or how often you brush. The latter illustrates how complex the interplay of factors is.

Gum inflammation is a more clear-cut culprit. Plaque and tartar that are not removed properly can damage the gums and thereby initiate or accelerate recession. Orthodontic treatment and overhanging fillings or crowns just below the gum line increase that risk. Smoking is also cited as a risk factor, although quantitative figures on the precise magnitude of that effect are lacking. People with naturally thin gum tissue are more vulnerable in any case: this is an innate characteristic that your dentist can assess.

Recession affects older people more often and more severely. In a Turkish cross-sectional study, more than 70% of the 534 participants examined already had some degree of recession. Early detection pays off: if there is no active inflammation or damage yet, careful monitoring is sufficient. As soon as symptoms do appear (sensitivity, visible root) or the risk of further damage increases, intervention is the next step. That does not begin with surgery, but with adjusting brushing habits, better plaque control and possibly desensitising agents. Surgery is only considered if those steps prove insufficient.