• Question: Why do gums recede?

    Asked by samjoeliam to Andrew, Emma, Marianne on 17 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Andrew Maynard

      Andrew Maynard answered on 12 Jun 2010:

      Hi samjoeliam,

      I’m sorry to say, I haven’t got the foggiest idea! What is worse, neither do any of my Twitter followers!!

      But I did consult the great oracle – Wikipedia! (are you allowed to use Wikipedia? My kids were banned from it at school!).

      Apparently – and this was news to me – receding gums can be caused by, amongst other things, overagressive brushing, inadequate brushing, grinding your teeth, eating disorders and sensitivity to a chemical used in many toothpastes, as well as gingivitis.

      I guess I would have known that if I listened to my Dentist!

    • Photo: Emma Pilgrim

      Emma Pilgrim answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Better off asking a dentist! I was told by mine though that over vigourous brushing could contribut to it.

    • Photo: anon

      anon answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      wikipedia is surprisingly illuminating on this subject:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receding_gums

      If it’s a problem for whoever’s gums are receding I’d go see a dentist…

    • Photo: Marianne Baker

      Marianne Baker answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      I have to say I had no idea (not a dentist!) but had a look here:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receding_gums

      There used to be a group at work that had a few dentists in it actually, but sadly they’ve moved universities so I can’t ask them tomorrow!!

Comments

  • Photo: Marianne

    Marianne commented on :

    Heh, all the scientists resorted to wiki…

    As we said before, it’s not a very respectable source; it’s always better to follow up with other research if it’s important.
    But if you’ve no idea, it’s a good place to start!

  • Photo: jim1

    jim1 commented on :

    I heard people change wikipedia just to have fun and laugh, thats why we cant use it as a proper resource in school in case its been changed. But its still cool, look up beans on toast on it. my security wont let me :(.

    • Photo: Andrew

      Andrew commented on :

      Sometimes people do chance Wikipedia for a laugh, but it’s surprising how fast someone else comes in and corrects it. It’s a really god source of information – as long as you check it against other sources and what makes sense.

      And just for you, “beans on toast” just returns the entry on baked beans on Wikipedia, but here are a couple of excerpts:

      “In the United Kingdom, the term baked beans refers almost exclusively to canned beans in a tomato sauce. Some people regard baked beans as integral part of the modern Full English Breakfast. As the top selling brand of baked beans, historically the H. J. Heinz Company has become synonymous with them, although the growing popularity of other brands has reduced this.[4] Heinz Beans were first sold in the UK in 1886 in the upmarket Fortnum & Mason store in London as an exotic import at a high price.[5] Although they are now a staple food, and arguably a downmarket one, the store continues the tradition of selling Heinz Beans among its more expensive wares.”

      “Baked beans are known on occasion to cause a considerable increase in flatulence following consumption;[7][8] this is due to the fermentation of polysaccharides (specifically oligosaccharides) by gut flora, specifically Methanobrevibacter smithii. The oligosaccahirdes pass through the upper intestine largely unchanged, and when they reach the lower intestine, bacteria feed on them, producing copious amounts of flatus.[9]”

      [The numbers refer to references that have been used – it’s always a good sign when you can check up on the information in this way]