I Healed My Receding Gums: What Helped and What Didn't

Receding Gums

At the age of 16, visiting the hygienist, I was told that I had gum disease. At 16, this didn’t mean anything to me, and as the statement wasn’t followed up with concern, advice or next steps, I ignored it, thinking my only problem was bleeding gums when I brushed.

But if anyone who’s been in a similar position to me knows, that it doesn’t end with bleeding gums and the problem, in fact, did get much, much worse. My gums began to recede, and panic started to set in.

Looking back now, it would have been relatively easy at that stage to reverse the problem, and I wish my dentist at the time had helped me understand the actual repercussions. See receding gum stages.

After moving to London in my 20s, I neglected my oral health even more as I didn’t see a dentist for around 10 years. I brushed my teeth (not every day and flossing was not something I ever got on with).

It was only after becoming a content writer, where I was tasked with writing blogs on dentistry, most of which centred around gum disease, that I received a proper education. From here, I began to connect the symptoms I was writing about to the problems I was suffering from.

Why I’m sharing this with you now

At 30 years of age, and full of worry, I sought the care I needed. As a blog writer for dentistry and feeling much better about my gum health, I thought it best to share my story with others searching for “how to reverse receding gums.”

I want to break down my journey and help others gain the same education so they can take action before it’s too late. Because it wasn’t too late for me, but it would have been if I hadn’t taken the steps outlined in this article.

Hopefully, I can empower you to do what’s necessary, because part of the reason I didn’t visit the dentist for 10 years was that I was scared of what they would say and how expensive it would all be.

And now? I’d 100% advocate for it. I’ve never felt happier – and I’m not just saying that.

The process was not as scary as I had imagined, and my gums are now in a healthy state, which means I can eat without pain and not worry about the aesthetics of my smile deteriorating.

I now visit the dentist every three months for a deep clean to keep on top of the build-up, and I don’t begrudge it at all – I’m on a path now of building up strong oral health, and I’m relieved I get to keep my teeth and gums as a result.

At first, I tried to reverse my gums naturally, but it didn’t work

In my late 20s, after noticing my gums beginning to recede and gum disease getting more severe, I thought I’d try to take matters into my own hands.

I was at the point where my teeth hurt (now I know it wasn’t my teeth, and I didn’t need a filling – it was my gums causing the irritation). Every time I would eat, I’d feel pain, and at night, my gums would pulse and throb, and the irritation at points was maddening.

Just as you do now, I turned to Google to try to solve my problem. Searches like “how to reverse receding gums at home” yielded numerous pieces of advice, including oil pulling, saltwater rinses, and special toothpastes.

So, I bought several products, such as a medicated mouthwash, an electric toothbrush and special toothpaste, which did manage to calm my pulsing gums at some points in the evening.

But as I was already used to poor at-home oral management, I never stuck to a routine even then.

Truthfully, nothing changed – and I knew from my own deep research that at-home methods would never bring my gums back, so I needed to go to the dentist and face my fears and the embarrassment of it all.

What actually worked – the steps I took that turned everything around

Now living in Sussex, I took to the internet again, but this time to find a gum specialist, as I knew I wouldn’t get far with a general dentist who could only offer me a hygiene appointment – the problem was too far gone to fix with a deep clean alone.

I needed a dentist who understood gum disease, not one who just knew how to clean teeth.

My first consultation with a specialist

I paid £175 for my initial check-up with gum specialist Dr Yogi, which at first did feel a little steep – but it’s not like I had spent any money on dentistry in the last 10 years, and at this point, I would have paid anything to know it would be OK.

The appointment lasted for about an hour, during which the dentist didn’t just poke at my teeth and see that they bled, but instead mapped the entire structure of my gums, measuring each depth of the pockets that had formed between my teeth (the black triangular pockets I hated). The results confirmed what I already knew.

In some areas, the readings were deep enough to show significant gum detachment, which was why I experienced the heightened throbbing and sensitivity I’d been living with for the past few years.

3D bone scans also showed a bit of bone loss and how my gums have shrunk over time. With the damage in black and white in front of me, everything was real and overwhelming.

But Yogi is so nice, he had a plan immediately to help and explained the procedures to me in detail, which made me feel better about it all.

Next came deep root surface debridement – not just a clean

The first step was an advanced, multi-stage deep clean, especially since I hadn’t had one for 10 years.

The procedure involved Yogi going deep below the gumline to manually remove hardened tartar and bacteria that clung to the roots of my teeth, causing all the damage.

While it was more invasive than your traditional hygiene appointment, it was still conducted under local anaesthetic and split over two appointments, so at home, I’d follow up with antibacterial gels.

After this part of the treatment concluded, the difference really was phenomenal. The throbbing stopped, the irritation gone, and the bleeding when I brushed was non-existent, if not minimal.

A dedicated at-home hygiene programme to follow

Yogi also simplified my at-home hygiene routine. I was still using my electric toothbrush, but I had to brush the back of my teeth first instead of the front.

That was also paired with a fluoride medicated toothpaste, which was chosen to soothe my gums and for its anti-decay benefits. Non-alcoholic mouthwashes could also be used to manage flare-ups, but should not be used daily.

Next, was to target the aesthetics of my receding gums with a gum regeneration procedure

I had two specific areas in the mouth where my gum recession was most notable and severe.

Periodontist Yogi then recommended a minimally invasive tissue regeneration procedure, which involved placing a small regenerative membrane under the gum to stimulate healing and encourage the gum to reattach to the tooth’s surface.

No grafts, no stitches, just smooth guided regeneration. The results of this meant that the gums sealed back up, the pockets were reduced, the roots were better protected, and I didn’t have to feel embarrassed about the appearance of gum recession and black triangular gaps between my teeth.

If you did want to explore grafting as a receding gum solution, check out our gum graft before and afters here.

I went through a psychological change and had a new attitude to move forward with

In hindsight and looking back, I’m quite amazed at how easy and treatable the situation was – especially as it could have been a lot worse if I continued to ignore the problem.

What I thought would be expensive and painful turned out to be an empowering experience and enabled me to take charge of my oral health and future. My gums didn’t magically grow back, but they did stop receding, and I’m pleased that I can keep my teeth and keep fighting the condition moving forward.

So, if you’re still here and reading this, don’t be afraid to book that consultation. I completely understand why you wouldn’t, but if you could see me now and learn how I feel, you’d know that it feels like a huge weight has been lifted.

Chances are, it’s not too late, like Google likes to tell you. There’s something Yogi can do at every stage, and I’m confident knowing I’ll be well looked after in the future. I’d 100% recommend him – even if you live a little further away.

Treatment details – what I spent (my receipt)

Clinic: Neyo Dental in West Sussex
Dentist: Dr Yogesh Wadher
Treatments: Deep clean and gum regeneration
Cost of treatment: £2,335 including my initial exam and review, which was spread over 6 months. I had the option to pay with finance, but since the treatments spanned over a specific period, I was able to pay as I went along.

Book your consultation now – you won’t be sorry.

Read next: How Long Can You Keep Your Teeth with Periodontal Disease?

How can we help? Call us on 01444 523 143 or send us an email using the form below and we’ll get right back to you…

Get in touch

01444 523 143