Receded gum does not grow back on its own, but the process can be stopped and in some cases the root can be covered surgically.
Gum that has receded does not return on its own. Gum tissue follows the bone beneath it, and when that bone recedes the soft tissue follows. That does not mean nothing can be done: the process can usually be stopped, and in selected cases the exposed root can be covered surgically. The first step is finding out why it happened.
Two main causes
The first is inflammatory: plaque and calculus advance under the gum, dissolve the supporting bone, and the gum follows that loss. The second is mechanical: a hard brush, heavy pressure, bite forces concentrated on one tooth, or nightly clenching. Many people have both at once.
Contributing factors
- Naturally thin, delicate gum tissue
- A tooth positioned toward the outside of the jaw bone
- Crowding, which leaves thin bone support
- A lip or cheek attachment pulling on the gum margin
- Smoking
- Overhanging filling and crown margins
- Lip or tongue piercings rubbing the tissue
Why it matters
Sensitivity is usually noticed first, because the exposed root has no enamel and reacts directly to cold and sweet. Root surfaces also decay faster than enamel, and in the front of the mouth the teeth begin to look longer with a visible colour change at the neck.
Stopping the progression
Treatment starts with removing the cause: professional cleaning and, where pockets have deepened, root surface debridement as part of gum treatment. Where the cause is mechanical, brushing technique is corrected and a night guard is considered if clenching is involved.
Can the root be covered?
Sometimes. Where the recession is limited and the bone between the teeth is intact, a graft can cover the exposed root. Where that bone has already been lost, coverage is partial at best, so expectations are set after an examination rather than in advance.
Managing sensitivity
Desensitising toothpaste used consistently helps within a few weeks, and fluoride varnish can be applied in the clinic. If wear has carved a notch into the root, restoring it with composite reduces sensitivity and protects the surface.
Recession progresses slowly and is hard to notice day to day, which is why measurements recorded at regular check-ups are the reliable way to know whether it is advancing. Our clinic is in Muratpasa and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
