you may not like thinking about the diseases that can plague your gums or teeth, practicing good dental hygiene is important and preventing issues like receding gums is vital to your dental health. Receding gums is a condition that’s common in adults over age 40, according to the California Dental Association. In many cases, it is a sign or precursor to one of a few different other dental problems, meaning that it's important to take it seriously from the start.What are Receding Gums?Simply put, this occurs when the small amount of tissue around the teeth wear away towards the direction of the root of the tooth. This process often occurs because of plaque, which serves to irritate the gums. As the buildup of plaque increases over time, it erodes the tissue, exposing more of the tooth as time wears on, creating a "recessed" appearance.Causes of Receding GumsThough plaque buildup is one of the major reasons why gums recede in your mouth, it is only one way it can happen. There are several other factors and causes of gum recession that may influence either the progression of the disease or speed at which your gums recede. For instance, genetics can play a role in the wear and recession of your gums. Regardless of how well your dental hygiene is, studies have shown that around thirty percent of individuals may be genetically predisposed to gum recession and gum disease. If you fall into this category, you need to be all the more cautious about dental hygiene and speak with your dentist about the steps you can take to prevent it from happening.Another cause of gum recession is aggressive tooth brushing. Over time, aggressive tooth brushing can cause the wear of enamel on your teeth, making it more likely that your gums will recede sooner. On the flip side, poor dental hygiene and insufficient dental care can also be likely causes. If you get in a routine of going to bed without brushing your teeth, or you go through l...