The Internet has been great for distributing information. Unfortunately, that also includes misinformation, and it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference. Identifying the false information can be hard, and it’s tempting to believe articles that offer you a simple solution to a complex problem.
And that’s the case with a recent natural news article claiming that there’s only one cause of gum recession: an unhealthy gut. This article by Emax Health claims that not only is an unhealthy gut the only cause of receding gums, but that you can easily reverse it by buying a certain natural remedy.
The Claim
In typical fashion for this type of claptrap, the article makes the absolute claim that there’s only one cause of receding gums, poor gut health. The reason why gut health causes receding gums is that poor gut health leads to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which causes receding gums.
This, they claim, is a scientifically proven fact. The science, of course, is a mixture of well-known statistics and and a scientific article cited out of context.
An Argument That Falls Apart
However, this article is even less competent than most of these misinformative natural news articles, because the article itself contradicts its supposed claim.
That’s because the article that Emax News cites doesn’t actually say that neither gut health nor GERD is the exclusive cause of receding gums. Instead, it says that GERD is an independent risk factor for receding gums.
What is an independent risk factor? Well, when researchers do statistical analysis of risks, they find that some factors either don’t increase risk or only increase risk when linked with other factors. An independent risk factor is one that is associated with higher risk all by itself. It doesn’t mean it’s the only cause–or even that it actually is a cause–just that it’s suspected of being a cause since whenever it’s present the risk goes up.
The Emax Health article even acknowledges this when they say that the article cites GERD along with “the other variables, which are well known to be significantly associated with chronic periodontitis.”
So, essentially, yeah, GERD is a factor, but it’s not the only factor.
Causes of Receding Gums
So, if your gums are receding, what could be the cause? There are many factors we could point to, in addition to the presence of GERD:
- Gum disease
- Aggressive toothbrushing
- Thin gum tissue
- Crooked teeth
- Oral piercings
- Alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana use
- Teeth clenching and grinding
Note: although aggressive toothbrushing can cause gum recession, receding gums aren’t associated with electric toothbrushes. During a consultation with a dentist, we can evaluate your gum recession and identify which causes are most likely influencing your receding gums.
Protect Gums Because You Can’t Regrow Gums Naturally
Protecting your gums from recession is very important because once your gums are receding, you can’t regrow them naturally, except for a small amount.
Preserving your gums means taking good care of your oral health. If you are looking for a Harriman, New York dentist to help protect your oral health, please call (845) 783-6466 today for an appointment at Harriman Family Dental.
