A chunk of my gum is missing? (Photo)

Question

I check my teeth fairly often as I'm very concious about them. Tonight when i was checking them i noticed a chunk missing in part of the gum around my tooth. I am mortified, i actually thought i was going to faint. I'm only 18! My mum recently brought some new toothbrushes, which over the part few days I've stopped using because I've found the bristles too hard, now I've noticed this! will the gum grow back or will i need a graft? I'm so worried :'( (it's on the second premolar)

Elly Tehrani, DMD, MSD · Answer

one of the reasons for gum recession is agressive brushing and using hard tooth brush. Other causes include orthodontic treatment ( braces), bite problems, smoking ...It is not very clear in your oicture ,but I think I see a cut in the gum as well. This is a gingival cleft that could be caused by wrong method of flossing and/ or bite problems on that specific tooth. Use a soft tooth brush from now on. And see a dentist to evaluate the situation. Recession will not correct itself. You might need to be referred for treatment.

Ara Nazarian, DDS, DICOI · Answer

From your photos it appears trauma is what has caused this condition probably due to the hard bristles of the tooth brush. Use a rinse like Peroxyl to help it heal and it should be fine within a couple weeks. If not, then have your dental provider take a closer look.

Ted Baghdasarian, DDS · Answer

Hi there,
That looks like abrasion trauma. Considering the things you mentioned, new brush, hard bristles, it is very likely that you may have traumatized your gum tissue when brushing along the gum line in that area. Other form of trauma like having the area poked or scraped by a piece of crunchy food may also cause that sort of tissue loss. From the looks of it though, it will recover with time and some conscious wound care. Try not to traumatized it further or poke at it, in about 6-8 weeks the tissue should heal, mature, and fill in if the remaining underlying gingival tissue has not been severely damaged by whatever caused this. At this point I do not believe you will need gingival grafting, however, should the area not heal and continue to recede and shrivel away, it can be treated with a free connective tissue graft harvested from the roof of your mouth. For now though, I would just wait, good luck!

Michael Ayzin, DDS · Answer

Yazmin, thank you for your question. It looks like a slight trauma in the area on that second premolar, but it should heal up. In general, the better brush is SOFT. The best is electrical one like Rotodent.
My advise in regards to your concern of receding gums though would be to consult a periodontist, dentist specializing in gum treatment to rule out any other possible cause.

John Paul Gallardo, DDS · Answer

If this is just an injury from your toothbrush, it's not unlikely for your gum to grow back. The key is to go to your periodontist to make sure that it is not also reflective of any other condition as well as to review proper home care.

A chunk of my gum is missing? (Photo)

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Answer: Is a chunk of my gum is missing?

Answer: Is a chunk of my gum is missing?

Answer: Gum Recession

Answer: Gum Recession

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A chunk of my gum is missing? (Photo)

Answers (9)

Answer: Is a chunk of my gum is missing?

Answer: Is a chunk of my gum is missing?

Answer: Gum Recession

Answer: Gum Recession

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Everything you need to know about Gum Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.