9.5 out of 10 periodontists say President Obama has receding gums

The other 0.5 said it appeared he had gum recession and disease but could not make a diagnosis from a single photograph.

The inaugural issue of a new magazine for doctors, dentists and surgeons announced 9.5 out of 10 dentists it surveyed said President Barack Obama had receding gums.

The dentists were shown a picture of the President's smile during the White House Correspondents Dinner in Apri and asked to supply a diagnosis. They were given a cropped photograph and not told the identity of the smile.

Nine and a half out of 10 periodontists diagnosed President Obama with gum recession on tooth #7 and tooth #10.  The doctors in the remaining agreed the photo appeared to show gum recession and gum disease but said they could not diagnose from just a picture.

Related reading: Cosmetic dentists to the stars

Also called gingival recession, the main cause of gum recession is gum disease resulting from poor brushing and flossing. Overly aggressive brushing can also cause receding gums, according to the magazine, titled Brilliant Doctors.

Untreated gum recession can result in tooth and tissue loss and sensitivity, cavities and undesirable esthetics.

For the celebrity smile analysis in its issue, Brilliant Doctors Magazine surveyed a representative sample from about 5,000 practicing periodontists.

About half of Americans ages 30 and older (more than 64 million people) have periodontitis, the more advanced form of gum disease, which causes receding gums, according to the American Academy of Periodontology and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More on gum disease: American Dental Association releases new guidelines on gum disease treatment