One of the problems with the human form is that our teeth evolved to last us for the whole of our life, with plenty of room to spare before our eventual death at the ripe old age of about 35 on average. Dr. Ellie Phillips advises those of us who might be a bit older than that, on how we can avoid becoming “too long in the tooth”—in other words, how to keep our gums, and thus our teeth, in place and healthy.

Getting to the root of the problem

The single biggest cause of gum recession is an acidic environment in the mouth, which harms teeth and gums alike. This acidic environment is produced not merely by consuming acid foods or drinks, but also (and much more often, and more problematically) by sugary foods and drinks, which are not necessarily themselves acidic, but they feed bacteria that release acids as a by-product of their metabolism. If we consume an acidic food or drink, it’s there for a moment, but if we then salivate and/or take a drink of water, it’s pretty much gone in a few seconds. But those bacteria when we feed them sugar? They are there to stay unless we do something more about them than just drink some water.

Other contributing factors to gum recession include teeth grinding, and (ironically) certain oral care products, especially many artificial teeth whiteners.

In case you were wondering: no, brushing will not* generally cause or even worsen gum recession, but flossing can exacerbate it if it’s already underway.

*unless, of course, you are using one of the whiteners we mentioned above

What to do about it: Dr. Phillips recommends:

• use a moderately firm toothbrush to massage gums and promote blood flow
• avoid acidic oral products and homemade remedies even if they’re not acidic but can be caustic, such as baking soda
• rebuild your gums’ and teeth’s protective biofilm (yes, there are “good bacteria” that are supposed to be there) with proper brushing
• avoid cleanings that are more intensive than brushing—skip flossing until your gums have recovered, too
• adjust your diet to avoid acids and (especially) sugars

10almonds note: she also recommends the use of xylitol to promote a healthy oral environment; we don’t recommend that, as while it may be great for the teeth, studies have found it to be bad for the heart.

For more on all of her advices and a bit more of the science of it, enjoy:

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Want to learn more?

You might also like to read:

• Toothpastes & Mouthwashes: Which Help And Which Harm?
• Flossing Without Flossing?
• Less Common Oral Hygiene Options ← including the miswak “chewing stick”, which even outperformed toothbrushes in clinical trials, by biochemically altering the composition of the saliva while gently cleaning like a toothbrush.
• Fluoride Toothpaste vs Non-Fluoride Toothpaste – Which is Healthier?
• Non-Alcohol Mouthwash vs Alcohol Mouthwash – Which is Healthier?
• Xylitol vs Erythritol – Which is Healthier?

Take care!