How to tell if one is beginning receding gums? what can be done to prevent receding gums?

roots begin to show: Gum recession is usually indicated by visibility of the roots of teeth. There can be many different causes with aggressive brushing and grinding of teeth being the most common. When roots show teeth can become more sensitive to temperature. You may or may not be able to prevent this but good oral hygiene, using a soft brush gently in a circular motion, and regular dental visits can help.

See a dentist: The best thing you can do is to see a dentist. How long has it been since you had your teeth cleaned? Gum disease , periodontal disease will cause recession.. Other factors are clenching, grinding, habits, bad bite. You may notice sensitivity to cold, or visibly see changes in the shape of you gum tissues. Get a dental exam.

Overbrusing: Excessively hard brushing can cause recession. Talk to your dentist about the right toothbrush and brushing technique for you. Another cause of recession is expanding teeth and alveolar (tooth housing) bone off of basal (skeletal) bone support. This sometimes happens naturally, but often happens as a result of "expansion" orthodontic treatment. See orthodontist for evaluation.

Brushing technique: Use soft bristles and warm water when brushing, keeps strokes short and round, .

Use soft toothbrush: Most abrasion is caused by improper brushing (the wrong motion) and using a hard tooth brush. If you brush 2 times a day, there is no reason to use a hard toothbrush. Plaque doesn't get hard (calcify and form tartar) for at least 24 hours. Using a hard brush can cause irreparable damage.