Uneven Gums: What You Need to Know

When it comes to maintaining your oral health and appearance, you need to think about a lot more than just your teeth. You also need to consider the health of your gums. If you do not care for your gums, you may find that the quality of your smile is compromised. If your gums are not symmetrical, your smile may appear to be lopsided and unusual. This can have a significant impact on your confidence. Thankfully, your dentist can help you to deal with uneven gums. Read on to find out more.

What causes uneven gums?

There are several causes of uneven gums. It could be that you were born with an uneven-looking gum line. In this case, it is a case of bad genes. However, other people who are born with even gums later suffer some form of trauma which causes the gum to become uneven. For example, if you have been using the wrong type of toothbrush or brushing technique, you may have caused the gums to recede in some areas of your mouth. Gums can also recede naturally as a person ages, which can result in an uneven gum line. Drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco may speed up this process.

What are the treatment options for uneven gums?

If you are concerned about your uneven gums, ask a dentist about contouring treatment and whether you would make a good candidate. During the contouring treatment, the dentist will reshape the gums by removing sections of tissue. By doing so, the dentist can create an even gum line. A dentist will be able to perform two types of gum contouring. 

Laser gum contouring

Laser gum contouring is a modern treatment which creates less pain than traditional surgical contouring techniques. Recovery times are typically faster when compared to traditional surgery.

Surgical gum contouring

Surgical gum contouring involves the dentist using sharp surgical scalpels to cut away sections of the gum. The dentist will administer pain-killing medication but you may still experience some discomfort. Once the dentist has removed sections of gum tissue they will stitch up the wound to prevent infection.

If you would like to find out more about your options when it comes to dealing with uneven gums, you should contact your local dentist today. The dentist will be happy to provide you with further information and advice so you can decide which type of contouring is right for you.