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

First things 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 accompany your everyday life.

Why gums recede

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

Gentle beats hard

The most important lever is the way you brush. A soft brush (look for "soft" or "extra soft"), little pressure and calm, small movements do your gums good. Place the bristles at a slight angle to the gum line, work your way along tooth by 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 reach for 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 routine

With sensitive gums the rule is: the gentler, the better. In this context you often read about the RDA value (Relative Dentine Abrasivity), which is meant to indicate a product's abrasiveness. That figure, however, 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 on enamel. Above all it's a relative value: the same toothpaste has already come out with markedly different results in different labs – around 180 in one investigation, 138 in another. The underlying standard leaves a lot of room, and the tube usually just shows a single number, without the study behind it. RDA values can therefore only be compared reliably within one and the same investigation – not from product to product.

More meaningful is the interplay of several factors: how hard the cleaning particles are compared with the tooth (enamel is 5 on the Mohs scale, the softer dentine only 2.5 – the harder the particle, the more it abrades), how large and what shape the particles are (fine and round rather than angular), the quantity in which they're contained and how the whole thing interacts with your toothbrush and your brushing pressure. The abrasion on the enamel itself – the REA, or Relative Enamel Abrasivity – also says more about gentleness than a pure dentine value. 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 oral mucosa, our formula deliberately leaves out.

Our tooth powder relies on hydroxyapatite, the mineral your tooth enamel is naturally made up of at around 97%. It is valued for supporting the natural remineralisation of the tooth enamel, and with its finely tuned cleaning particles it is especially gentle – a pleasant thought precisely at exposed, sensitive tooth necks. Added to this are the plant-based enzymes papain and bromelain, which gently loosen surface stains without you having to help mechanically, and – in our Sensitive varieties – oral probiotics (Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL19) that support the natural balance of the oral flora. Studies are taking a closer look at these ingredients; you read the sources, you decide.

When to see your dentist

Gum recession has many faces – from barely visible to pronounced. The earlier you have it checked, the more options there are. If exposed tooth necks hurt badly, something feels irritated or you're unsure, that belongs in the hands of a dentist. And quite honestly: once gums have receded, they generally 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, clarify 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 the natural remineralisation – our tooth powder brings that with it.

Can I 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.