10 Easy Ways to Improve Gum Recession
Many people worry about receding gums, and it is sometimes associated with loss of jaw bone. Don’t underestimate these symptoms, because they warn that something is wrong with the health of your mouth. On the other hand, if you believe the universal answer to dental problems is to brush and floss, I hope you will consider a different approach.
Gum recession is usually a symptom of too much cleaning or unbalanced mouth chemistry, which is why additional brushing and flossing may make things worse, not better. Pellicle is a slick, slippery film that covers healthy teeth and gums to protect them from scratchy foods, strong spices, hot and cold, and other things that we eat or drink. Harsh products that strip the pellicle layer from your mouth can cause recession. Without the waxy coating of pellicle, teeth stain, become sensitive, and easily wear away.
Pellicle Damage
Acids from juices dissolve the pellicle layer, and periods of dryness may cause it to fray and frizzle. You may be pellicle-deficient if you sleep or breathe with your mouth open, which explains why gum recession is a frequent problem of older adults. Today young people experience recession, because damage is caused by allergy medications, acidity from energy and sports drinks, or the frequent use of whitening products.
Bleaching strips, peroxide or baking soda can remove Pellicle and leave teeth sensitive at the gum line. Flossing and brushing only make the situation worse, eroding enamel and causing more recession. Teeth need protection, nurturing, and help to rebuild healthy Pellicle. This involves correct mouth care and a good diet with adequate protein, Omega-3s and vitamin D.
Here are 10 tips to improve gum recession:
- Each morning, sip a drink made with 1 teaspoon of xylitol dissolved in water
- Take a flossing holiday
- Clean your teeth with the Complete Mouth Care System, twice daily
- Eat Zellies mints or gum after every meal, drink or snack (unless you finish the meal with cheese)
- Use Probiotics for 2-3 months to improve your digestive health
- Take supplements to benefit your immune system
- Include fermented organic dairy in your diet – yogurt, kafir or aged cheese
- Keep juices, teas and acidic drinks to meal times only
- Ensure lunch is nutritious – include green leafy vegetables to boost body alkalinity and improve the quality of after-lunch saliva
- Try not to eat or drink anything for a couple of hours after lunch each day – give your teeth time to interact with un-diluted, natural saliva
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Hello Dr. Ellie, Do you have any thoughts on green drinks and beet juice? I am trying to replace black tea with more alkaline drinks and my saliva pH after these is quite alkaline, I am just wondering if the naturally occurring sugars (in beets in particular) would be counter productive. Water with xylitol is my usual drink these days but I am also keen to remineralize with the incorporation of nutrient dense foods as overnight my mouth becomes quite acidic.
Thanks for all your wisdom! Looking forward to your next book!
Hi Anne, this is an interesting question. Alkaline drinks should be good for teeth – and I am not at all worried about the naturally occurring sugars. I am simply not sure if the phytates in the plant-based green ingredients cause any damage. My general feeling is that you will be fine – but if you notice your teeth get sensitive or loose their “shine” – consider protecting your teeth (after the drink) with some Zellies!
Thank you! Yes the phytates complicate things don’t they, I will incorporate xylitol after just in case. I’m also wondering about probiotics. Will swallowing capsules be helpful for gum health or do they need to come into contact with the mouth? I am thinking it would be good to swish them around the mouth but am uncertain about acidophilus (most probiotics contain lactobacillus acidophilus) as I have seen some association with high acidophilus levels in the mouth and cavities. How do you suggest using probiotics?
Hi Dr. Ellie,
For tip number 10 in the list above, would you not recommend a little xylitol after lunch *before* you take the couple of hour break?
You surely could! Or perhaps a cube of cheddar cheese ( very mineralizing) – or some Zellies……they are all good ideas!
Thanks so much for your thoughts and your interest in Zellies.
Hi Dr. Ellie! I love kiss your dentist goodbye, I have learned so much! Thanks for all you do. You mention several times in your book to avoid sorbitol because bacteria learn to process it as sugar. You also recommend act fluoride rinse and crest cavity protection. I noticed, however, that they both contain sorbitol. Is this a change in their ingredients since you have written the book? Are they acceptable to use with sorbitol? I also noticed that my travel size of original crest cavity protection contains glycerin (something not found in the larger tubes) Any thoughts on this? Thanks for the help!
Thank you for your kind message. Sorbitol can be a problem when consumed – as happens when it is incorporated into candies or gum. If sorbitol is combined with xylitol in chewing gum (like Trident or Orbit) studies show that it can energize plaque bacteria and that it slows re-mineralization ( even though the gum is labelled “sugarless”). They say it takes 2 or 3 sticks of gum to provide enough sorbitol to energize plaque, so this warning applies mostly to people who chew a lot of “sugarless” gum each day.
In mouth rinses the amount of sorbitol does not pose problems. Of course I wish all the products were sweetened with xylitol, but it’s too expensive for this to happen!
I did not notice glycerin in the travel-size crest ……ugh! Zellies may have to start making toothpaste!
Hello! Just to clarify, is it that 2 or 3 sticks of Orbit or Trident chewing gum would be bad if they were all consumed after one meal, say, or is it still bad if they were consumed over the course of 1 day?
I believe it depends on the rest of your diet. Generally be careful with those artificial ingredients – and stop using these gum products if you have any signs of acid refulx or plaque problems with your teeth or gums. Change over and use Zellies 100% xylitol gum instead!
thank you so much for the information… i have gum erosion and vitamin d has helped some i thought the cause was peroxide now i know it is true… thanks a million