Understanding Gum Recession – the Right Oral Care

Maybe you’ve noticed it when looking in the mirror: a tooth looks longer than it used to, the neck of the tooth looks a little darker, and cold drinks suddenly feel more sensitive. Receding gums are common – and in the vast majority of cases no reason to panic. But it’s worth taking a look and adjusting your daily routine a little.

One thing first: what’s really behind it in your case is best clarified with your dentist. Our blog gives you a calm overview – and shows how gentle care can support your everyday life.

Why gums recede

Usually, several things come together. Often it’s simply too much pressure when brushing or a toothbrush that’s too hard – gums react sensitively to mechanical irritation. A naturally delicate, thin gum structure also plays a role, as do smoking, hormonal phases such as pregnancy or menopause, and genetic predisposition. If you scrub hard, you mean well – but often achieve the opposite.

Gentle beats hard

The most important lever is how you brush. A soft brush (look for “soft” or “extra soft”), little pressure and calm, small movements are good for your gums. Place the bristles at a slight angle to the gum line, work your way from tooth to tooth and let the brush do the work – not your hand. A sonic toothbrush with pressure control can help, because it gently slows you down as soon as you press too hard. And if you choose bamboo: here too, what matters most is that the bristles are soft.

A small, often underestimated point: after acidic food and drinks – fruit, juice, yoghurt – it’s better to wait half an hour before brushing. That gives your saliva time to rebalance the environment in your mouth.

What matters in your care

With sensitive gums, the rule is: the gentler, the better. In this context, you often read about the RDA value (Relative Dentin Abrasivity), which is meant to indicate how abrasive a product is. However, this number is only of limited use as a benchmark. It was developed for the laboratory in the 1970s, can only be transferred to the situation in the mouth to a limited extent, and is measured on dentine, not enamel. Above all, it is a relative value: the same toothpaste has produced clearly different results in different laboratories – around 180 in one study, 138 in another. The underlying standard leaves a lot of leeway, and the tube usually only shows a number, without the study behind it. RDA values can therefore only be reliably compared within one and the same study – not from product to product.

More meaningful is the interplay of several factors: how hard the cleaning particles are compared with the tooth (enamel sits at 5 on the Mohs scale, the softer dentine at just 2.5 – the harder the particle, the more it abrades), how large and how shaped the particles are (fine and round rather than angular), how much of them is included, and how it all interacts with your toothbrush and brushing pressure. The abrasion on the enamel itself – the REA, or Relative Enamel Abrasivity – also says more about gentleness than a dentine value alone. In the end, what counts is the overall picture of the formula, not a single figure.

Harsh foaming agents such as SLS and alcohol, which can irritate or dry out the lining of your mouth, are deliberately left out of our formula.

Our tooth powder relies on hydroxyapatite, the mineral that naturally makes up around 97% of your tooth enamel. It is valued for supporting the natural remineralisation of tooth enamel and, with finely tuned cleaning particles, is particularly gentle – a reassuring thought, especially for exposed, sensitive tooth necks. On top of that come the plant enzymes papain and bromelain, which gently loosen external stains without you having to help mechanically, and – in our Sensitive flavours – a postbiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL19), which supports the natural balance of the oral flora. Studies are taking a closer look at these ingredients; you read the sources, you decide.

Sensitive · gentle care

Hydroxyapatite Tooth Powder Sensitive – Orange-Mandarin

Purely fruity, for children aged three and up and for anyone who’d rather skip mint in the morning. Hydroxyapatite supports the natural remineralisation of tooth enamel, plus xylitol and a postbiotic. No nano particles. Mineral · With plant-based ingredients · Refillable · Made in Germany.

Discover →

Do your teeth react sensitively? Tooth powder for sensitive teeth explains what matters in gentle oral care.

When to see your dentist

Receding gums take many forms – from barely visible to pronounced. The earlier you have it checked, the more options there are. If exposed tooth necks are very painful, something feels irritated or you’re unsure, it belongs in a dentist’s hands. And to be honest: gums that have receded usually don’t grow back on their own. The aim is therefore to slow further recession – with gentle care and regular check-ups.

What many people also ask

Can receded gums recover?
Usually not on their own. But you can do a lot to stop them receding further – brush gently, find out the cause, keep at it.

Which oral care suits sensitive gums?
One without SLS and alcohol, with mild, finely tuned cleaning particles. Hydroxyapatite is valued as a supporting ingredient for natural remineralisation – our tooth powder includes it.

Is it okay to brighten my teeth?
With exposed tooth necks, that’s tricky because they react sensitively. It’s best to discuss it with your dentist beforehand.

Does diet play a role?
Yes. Little sugar and acid supports a balanced oral environment – and drinking enough water always helps anyway.

If you like, simply start this evening: soft brush, little pressure, two calm minutes. Discover our tooth powders with hydroxyapatite – gentle enough for sensitive gums.