Receding Gums
Why gums recede and how they are treated.
Gum recession exposes tooth roots, causing sensitivity and an aged smile. Causes include gum disease and aggressive brushing.
Treatment
Gum grafting and periodontal care can cover roots and restore the gum line.
Prevention
Gentle brushing and treating gum disease prevent further recession.
Gums Do Not Grow Back
This is the fact that changes decisions. Once the gum has receded, it does not regenerate on its own. Treatment either stops further loss or surgically covers the exposed root with a graft. Nothing you buy in a tube reverses it.
Which is why identifying and removing the cause comes before anything cosmetic.
The Causes, In Order of Frequency
Periodontitis — bacterial destruction of the bone that supports the gum. The commonest cause, and the one that also loosens teeth. See gum disease.
Aggressive brushing — a hard brush, horizontal scrubbing, heavy pressure. Notably common in people who consider themselves diligent.
Bruxism — the repeated flexing of the tooth at the gum line.
Thin gum biotype — inherited, and unlucky.
Orthodontic movement beyond the bony envelope, and lip or tongue piercings.
Why It Is Not Only Cosmetic
The exposed root has no enamel. It is softer, decays faster (root caries), and its open dentine tubules cause sensitivity to cold and brushing.
Recession also signals what is happening underneath. Where it accompanies bleeding and deepening pockets, bone is being lost — and bone loss is what ultimately costs the tooth.
What Treatment Actually Does
First, stop the cause: periodontal treatment, a soft brush with correct technique, a night guard, removal of a piercing.
Then, if indicated, cover the root: a connective tissue graft — usually taken from the palate — placed over the exposed root. It is a well-established procedure with good outcomes on suitable defects. Coverage is best where the bone between the teeth is intact; where that bone is already lost, full coverage is not achievable.
Treating recession without controlling the cause guarantees it returns.
Prevention Is Genuinely Simple
Soft brush. Light pressure. Small circular movements, not horizontal sawing. An electric brush with a pressure sensor removes the guesswork. Interdental cleaning daily. A night guard if you grind. Professional cleaning every six months.
Watch for the early signal: teeth that look longer, sensitivity at the gum line, and a notch you can feel with a fingernail. See gum aesthetics.
This page provides general information and does not replace professional dental advice. Seek prompt care if you have symptoms of a spreading infection.
Frequently Asked Questions
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