Oral Health›Common problems

Receding Gums: Causes, Effects and What Can Be Done

Receding gums pull back from the teeth and expose part of the root, which can make teeth look longer and feel sensitive. Here is what causes it, why it matters, and how a dentist can help.

Updated September 2026·By the OHA editorial team·8 min read·How we write
Key takeaways
  • Receding gums (gum recession) means the gum has pulled back from a tooth, exposing part of the root. Teeth can look longer.
  • Gum disease, brushing too hard and naturally thin gums are among the causes. Tobacco and mouth piercings can also damage the gums.
  • Exposed roots can be sensitive and are more likely to decay.
  • A dentist can treat the cause, ease sensitivity and, in some cases, cover the root with a gum graft.
  • Brush gently with a soft brush, clean between your teeth every day, do not smoke and have regular check-ups.

A 2018 Cochrane review describes receding gums (also called gingival recession) as the gradual loss of gum tissue which, if left untreated, can expose the tooth root. It can affect one tooth or many, and it can change how your teeth look and make them sensitive. The Better Health Channel (Victoria) describes the gum line shrinking away from the tooth, making teeth look longer.

Your dentist looks for recession at check-ups: the US National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) says a dental examination includes checking the gums for receding away from the teeth.

What causes gums to recede?

The health bodies describe several causes, and more than one can apply.

Gum disease

Gum disease is inflammation of the gums caused by plaque, a sticky layer of bacteria. The NHS lists gums shrinking among the things gum disease can lead to. healthdirect Australia explains that in the advanced stage, periodontitis, your gums may shrink down from the tooth and expose the surface of the root. The NIDCR also says the gums may pull away from the teeth, making the teeth look longer. See gum disease.

Brushing too hard

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust lists aggressive brushing as a cause of gum recession. The American Dental Association (ADA) says firm or even medium bristles may damage your gums and enamel, and advises brushing only hard enough to clean the film off your teeth rather than scrubbing. The Oral Health Foundation lists brushing too hard or using a hard toothbrush among the causes of sensitive teeth.

Naturally thin gums and the shape of your mouth

Cambridge University Hospitals also lists:

  • gum tissue that is naturally thin
  • the shape of the muscle and tissue attachments in the mouth (called frenal attachments)
  • the position of the tooth in the bone
  • previous tooth loss

It explains that thick gum tissue is more resistant to recession over time.

Tobacco

Smoking and chewing tobacco are risk factors for gum disease, according to the ADA, and the NIDCR says smoking or using tobacco is the most significant one. The ADA explains that tobacco chemicals irritate the gums, and as this gets worse the gums can pull away from the teeth. See smoking, vaping and oral health.

Mouth piercings

The Oral Health Foundation says jewellery rubbing against the gums can cause recession, and that this damage cannot be reversed. The ADA warns that biting or playing with a piercing can injure your gums. See oral piercings.

Bite problems and grinding

The Oral Health Foundation groups an uneven bite and clenching or grinding together as "bite problems", and says an uneven bite can lead to loose teeth and gums pulling away from the teeth. See teeth grinding.

Age

The Oral Health Foundation says gums naturally recede over time, which is one reason sensitivity becomes more common as we get older. See oral health in older age.

Gums can shrink after gum treatment

A leaflet from University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust explains that after a deep clean below the gumline for gum disease, you may get some gum shrinkage that makes the teeth look longer. It says this is a sign that the gums are becoming healthier.

Why does gum recession matter?

Sensitive teeth

Below the gumline, the root is protected by a layer called cementum, with softer dentine underneath. The ADA explains that dentine can be exposed when gums recede, letting heat, cold and acidic or sticky foods reach the nerves inside the tooth. healthdirect says an exposed root can make a tooth sensitive to cold and sweet foods and drinks. See tooth sensitivity.

Decay on the roots

The NIDCR says that if your gums have pulled away from the teeth, the exposed roots are vulnerable to decay. The ADA explains that roots are covered with cementum, which is softer than enamel, and says it is common for people over 50 to have decay on the roots of their teeth. See tooth decay.

How your teeth look

Teeth can look longer as the gum line moves back (Better Health Channel), and the Cochrane review notes recession can affect how the teeth look.

Loose teeth

Where recession is caused by periodontitis, healthdirect explains that the bone supporting the teeth can be lost over time, so teeth can become loose and may fall out.

What can be done?

Treatment depends on the cause and on how much gum has been lost. The ADA says treatment for sensitive teeth depends on what is causing it, and the Oral Health Foundation lists treating gum disease or other causes among the things a dentist may do.

Treating the cause

If gum disease is the cause, the NHS says your dentist may give you advice on cleaning, advise you to stop smoking and arrange a clean with a hygienist. More serious gum disease may need a deep clean under the gums, antibiotics or gum surgery. You may be referred to a specialist, such as a periodontist (healthdirect calls this a gum health specialist). If a piercing is rubbing your gums, the ADA says the best option is to consider removing the jewellery before it causes a problem.

Easing sensitivity and protecting the roots

The Oral Health Foundation and the ADA describe:

  • a desensitising toothpaste, which the ADA says usually needs several applications before it works
  • a fluoride gel applied at the dental surgery, or a high-fluoride toothpaste
  • a filling placed over worn areas near the gumline (Oral Health Foundation)

Gum grafts

A gum graft (soft-tissue graft) is surgery to cover an exposed root with new gum tissue. The ADA says it protects the root and reduces sensitivity. Cambridge University Hospitals says it is recommended when recession has left the root exposed, or you are at risk of this. In its leaflet:

  • The tissue usually comes from elsewhere in your own mouth.
  • The procedure is done under local anaesthetic and usually takes about an hour. Stitches dissolve or are removed after 7 to 21 days, and healing takes a few weeks to a few months.
  • Possible benefits include less sensitivity, easier cleaning, a lower risk of further recession, protection from decay and a more even gum line.
  • Pain, swelling and bruising are normal and settle within 1 to 2 weeks. Risks include bleeding, infection, an uneven gum line and needing further surgery.

The Cochrane review (48 trials, 1,227 adults) found that most root coverage procedures reduced recession, but it could not say which works best, and it judged the quality of the evidence low or very low. Discomfort was mainly at the site the tissue was taken from, in the first week.

How can you prevent receding gums?

  • Brush gently with a soft-bristled brush, using small circular movements rather than hard scrubbing (Oral Health Foundation, ADA). The Australian Dental Association also advises not pressing too hard.
  • Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth every day, as the NHS advises for preventing gum disease. The NIDCR says fluoride toothpaste is just as helpful for adults as for children in preventing decay. See how to brush your teeth and cleaning between your teeth.
  • Do not smoke or use chewing tobacco or snuff (NIDCR, NHS).
  • Have regular dental check-ups so recession and gum disease are picked up early.
When to see a dentist
  • Your gums look as if they are shrinking back, or your teeth look longer.
  • Your teeth have become sensitive to hot, cold or sweet things.
  • Your gums bleed when you brush, or are red and swollen.
  • Your teeth feel loose.
  • A mouth piercing is rubbing your gums. The ADA says to contact a dentist or doctor straight away if a piercing shows signs of infection, such as swelling, pain or fever.
Get help urgently
  • Ask for an urgent dental appointment if you have gum disease with very sore and swollen gums, or teeth becoming loose or falling out (NHS advice).
  • Contact a dentist or doctor urgently if a mouth piercing causes severe swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or bleeding that will not stop (Oral Health Foundation). The ADA warns that the tongue can swell enough after a piercing to block the airway.

Frequently asked questions

Can receding gums grow back?

None of the sources we used says that gum which has receded grows back by itself, and the Oral Health Foundation says recession caused by piercing jewellery cannot be reversed. What can be done is to stop it getting worse by treating the cause, and in some cases a gum graft can cover the exposed root.

Are receding gums always a sign of gum disease?

No. Gum disease is a common cause, but Cambridge University Hospitals also lists aggressive brushing, naturally thin gums, the position of a tooth and previous tooth loss. Only a dentist can tell you which applies to you.

Will brushing harder get my teeth cleaner?

No. The ADA says to brush only hard enough to clean the film off your teeth, and that your fluoride toothpaste does the rest.

Sources

  1. Root coverage procedures for the treatment of localised and multiple recession-type defects, Cochrane (Chambrone and others, 2018), accessed September 2026
  2. Gum grafting procedure, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, accessed September 2026
  3. Gum disease (leaflet 400), University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, accessed September 2026
  4. Gum disease, NHS, accessed September 2026
  5. Gum disease, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  6. Gum disease, Better Health Channel (Victoria), accessed September 2026
  7. Brushing teeth, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  8. Sensitive teeth, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
  9. Toothbrushes, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
  10. Mouth piercings, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
  11. Jaw problems and headaches, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
  12. Gum disease, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  13. Sensitive teeth, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  14. Tooth decay, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  15. Toothbrushes, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  16. Smoking, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  17. Oral piercings, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  18. Periodontal (gum) disease, NIH National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, accessed September 2026
  19. Older adults and oral health, NIH National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

Toothache: Causes, Pain Relief and When to Get Help
Toothache is usually a sign that a tooth or the gum around it needs treatment. Here are the common causes, what you can safely do while you wait for a dentist, and the signs that mean you need help the same day.
Dental Abscess: Symptoms, Treatment and When It Is an Emergency
A dental abscess is a build-up of pus from an infection in a tooth or the gum. It will not go away on its own and needs a dentist. Here is how to recognise one, how it is treated and the signs that need emergency care.
Cracked, Chipped and Broken Teeth
A cracked or chipped tooth is usually not serious, but a crack cannot heal on its own and can get worse. Here are the signs, what to do straight away, how each kind of crack is treated and how to protect your teeth.