How to prevent receding gums

Your gums surround and protect the sensitive necks of your teeth. If they start to pull away from your teeth, they are said to be receding. Read this health tip to find out about the causes of receding gums and the best ways to prevent it.
11.10.2023 | 2 minutes reading time
Author:
Content-Team SWICA
Does it hurt when you drink cold drinks, or do your teeth suddenly seem longer? These could be signs that your gums are receding. Gums may recede for a variety of reasons. One possible cause is a build-up of plaque due to inadequate oral hygiene. Using too firm a brush or brushing your teeth too hard can also lead to receding gums.

What is plaque build-up?

Your mouth is home to countless bacteria. This is no bad thing in itself, as most of them are useful and help to maintain a healthy mouth flora. However, there are also harmful bacteria that can attack your tooth enamel. They accumulate, along with food debris, in the layer of saliva on your teeth. These bacteria convert the sugar in food into lactic acid, which can cause tooth decay. They also produce toxins that can lead to gum inflammation. The long-term effect of this inflammation is that your gums pull away from the necks of your teeth and recede.

How do you remove plaque?


If you brush your teeth regularly and thoroughly, and clean the gaps between your teeth with dental floss, these harmful bacteria stand almost no chance. Brushing your teeth two or three times a day, ideally 30 minutes after eating, is therefore absolutely essential. But beware: brushing harder does not mean brushing better. Irritating the gums too much while brushing can also cause them to recede. People with sensitive gums in particular are advised to use a very soft toothbrush or an electric one. Using a fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your teeth and an antibacterial mouthwash can further reduce the risk of inflammation. You can also chew xylitol chewing gum to tackle the bacteria – they are unable to process this sugar substitute and literally starve to death.

Consequences of receding gums

If your gums have receded, parts of the sensitive necks of your teeth are exposed. Hot, cold or sharp food and drink may feel unpleasant or even cause you pain. The necks of your teeth are also more prone to decay. Left untreated, gum inflammation can lead to a condition called periodontitis in which both the gums and the underlying bone become inflamed. In serious cases, teeth can become loose or even fall out.

If you notice that your gums may be receding, you need to do something about it right away, because unfortunately once they have receded, they cannot grow back.

SWICA Denta dental insurance

Healthy oral hygiene is important for general health. However, visiting the dentist can sometimes be a huge financial burden. That's why SWICA's Denta model contributes towards the cost of dental care, such as:

  • Check-ups
  • Dental hygiene
  • Dental treatment

For SWICA customers: santé24 and Benecura

In the event of further health-related questions, SWICA customers can contact the santé24 online practice free of charge on +41 44 404 86 86. A telemedicine practice licence allows santé24 physicians to provide additional medical services in cases that are suited to a telemedicine approach.

SWICA customers can also use the Benecura medical app to carry out a digital SymptomCheck and receive recommendations about what to do next. During a subsequent phone call with santé24, customers can decide for themselves whether to release their information from SymptomCheck to santé24.

More articles

This may interest you as well

SWICA world of health: offers for your health

SWICA's holistic commitment to your health. Discover the latest health offers, challenges, interesting tips and stories on the topic of health.

All offers for health promotion and preventive healthcare

SWICA actively supports those who are committed to learning about and maintaining their health. That's why SWICA makes contributions of up to 1'300 francs* towards activities relating to health promotion and preventive healthcare.

active4life – preferential deals for people insured with SWICA

Thanks to around 100 active4life preferential offers, SWICA customers enjoy a whole host of Swiss destinations and a variety of special nutrition, health, sport and wellness offers.