Help! My gums seem to be disappearing. What does this mean?

If your teeth appear to be getting longer in the gums as if the gum around them were ‘receding’ then we suggest booking an appointment. Gum recession is the loss of tissue around the tooth which exposes the tooth bed and possibly the root of the tooth. This leaves the tooth in more danger of being exposed to bacteria, and therefore tartar and plaque which leads to decay and possible loss of the tooth. It can also cause aesthetic problems and tooth sensitivity. If the recession is severe, treatment options such as deep cleaning can be done to allow all of the plaque and tartar around the tooth to be removed, and the gums to reattach and heal tightly around the tooth again.