Receding Gums: Can They Grow Back, What Causes Them and What Can You Do?

In 30 seconds

• Gum recession means the gumline has moved away from its previous position, exposing more of the tooth or root.
• It can happen gradually and may cause no pain at first.
• Possible contributors include gum disease, plaque, thin gum tissue, tooth position, traumatic brushing, smoking, orthodontic movement and local trauma.
• Established gum recession does not reliably grow back by itself. But removing the cause can help stop it getting worse.
• Exposed-root sensitivity can often be reduced.
• Selected cases can be treated with gum grafting or other root-coverage procedures.
• Nutrition and mineral balance may matter to the wider periodontal picture. Where genuinely relevant, nutritional assessment and HTMA may add useful information.

Can receding gums grow back?

This is the big question.

If the gum has genuinely receded and part of the tooth root is now exposed, you should not expect the lost gum simply to grow back to its original position on its own.

That does not mean nothing can be done.

First: stop losing more

If a contributing factor can be identified and corrected, the recession may be stabilised.

For some people, that is the most important result.

Second: protect the exposed root

Sensitivity, wear and root-surface decay can often be managed.

Home care and professional dental care can both have a role.

Third: tissue can sometimes be restored surgically

In suitable cases, periodontal procedures can reposition or add gum tissue over an exposed root.

These include techniques commonly described as gum grafting or root-coverage surgery.

What exactly is gum recession?

Your gum normally forms a protective seal around each tooth.

With recession, the edge of the gum moves further down the root surface.

That exposes more of the tooth.

Which is why people often say:

“My teeth are getting longer.”

The tooth has not suddenly grown.

More of it has become visible.

This may cause:

• A longer-looking tooth
• A visible change in the gumline
• A notch close to the gum
• Cold sensitivity
• Sensitivity to sweet or acidic foods
• Discomfort when brushing
• Concern about appearance
• Greater exposure of the root surface

Some people, however, have obvious recession with surprisingly little discomfort.

Why do gums recede?

There is no single cause.

That matters because the solution depends partly on why the gum moved in the first place.

Gum disease

Periodontitis can damage the tissues and bone supporting the teeth.

As support is lost, the gumline may recede.

Plaque and inflammation

Persistent plaque around the gumline can contribute to periodontal inflammation.

Good plaque control therefore still matters even when other factors are involved.

Naturally thin gum tissue

Some people have thinner gums around particular teeth.

Thin tissue may be more vulnerable to recession.

Tooth position

A tooth positioned towards the outside of the jaw may have less bone and soft-tissue support covering part of its root.

Anatomy matters.

Traumatic brushing

Repeated aggressive scrubbing can contribute to local trauma.

More pressure does not automatically mean cleaner teeth.

Smoking

Smoking is an important risk factor for periodontal disease and can contribute to a less healthy gum environment.

Orthodontic movement

In some people, moving teeth orthodontically can affect the gumline, particularly where the tooth is moved towards the edge of the supporting bone.

Lip or tongue piercings

Jewellery repeatedly rubbing against the same part of the gum can cause local trauma.

Can brushing too hard cause receding gums?

It can contribute.

But “all recession is caused by brushing too hard” is much too simple.

Periodontal disease, tissue thickness, tooth position and other local factors may also matter.

Think clean — not scrub

You do not need to attack the gumline.

If the toothbrush bristles are bending dramatically and you are sawing hard across the teeth, ease off.

Use a gentle, effective technique.

A dentist or hygienist can show you how to clean the gumline without repeatedly traumatising it.

Did a dental cleaning make my gums recede?

Sometimes people notice their teeth looking longer after professional periodontal cleaning.

It can feel as though the treatment made the gums disappear.

Often something different has happened.

Before treatment, inflamed gum tissue may have been swollen.

When the inflammation settles, the swollen tissue can shrink.

If supporting tissue had already been lost, more of the tooth or root may then become visible.

What can you do now?

1. Stop aggressive brushing

If you scrub hard, reduce the pressure.

Aim for good plaque removal without repeatedly traumatising the gumline.

2. Keep the area clean

Do not avoid the gumline because it looks vulnerable.

Plaque still needs to be removed.

Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and clean between the teeth appropriately.

3. Take a clear photograph

Take a close-up photograph in good light.

It can help you notice whether the gumline appears stable or continues to move.

Dental measurements and photographs are even more useful when monitoring progression.

4. Stop smoking

If you smoke, stopping is one of the most useful things you can do for long-term periodontal health.

5. Remove obvious local trauma

If jewellery is repeatedly rubbing against the gum, address it.

If recession develops during orthodontic treatment, raise it with the treating clinician.

6. Protect the exposed root

If the area is sensitive, a desensitising fluoride toothpaste may help.

Use it consistently rather than trying a different product every few days.

7. Reduce frequent acid exposure

Frequent acidic drinks plus an exposed root surface plus aggressive brushing is not a good combination.

Why can receding gums make teeth sensitive?

The crown of the tooth is protected by enamel.

The root is different.

When the root becomes exposed, the underlying dentine can respond more strongly to:

• Cold drinks
• Cold air
• Hot foods
• Sweet foods
• Acidic foods and drinks
• Touch

Desensitising toothpaste can help many people.

But not every sensitive tooth is caused by recession.

Decay, cracks, fillings, tooth wear and other dental problems can produce similar symptoms.

Could nutrition be part of the picture?

Yes.

Your gums are living tissue.

The tissues and bone supporting your teeth depend on normal:

• Protein intake
• Connective-tissue maintenance
• Immune function
• Wound healing
• Bone metabolism
• Overall nutritional adequacy

Nutrients commonly discussed in relation to periodontal and bone health include:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Protein
• Other micronutrients

That does not mean taking all of them will move an exposed gum back over the root.

The nutritional question becomes more relevant when recession sits alongside:

• A very poor or restricted diet
• Low food intake
• Digestive problems
• Concerns about nutrient absorption
• Multiple supplements without a clear plan
• Bone-health concerns
• Other nutritional or metabolic issues

What about gut health and mineral balance?

The mouth does not exist separately from the rest of the body.

Your digestive system affects what nutrients are available from the food you eat.

Researchers are also increasingly interested in the relationship between the oral microbiome and gut microbiome.

The two environments may interact through microbes, immune activity, inflammation and other biological pathways.

This is an active area of research.

But if somebody has gum concerns alongside:

• Digestive problems
• A very restricted diet
• Possible absorption concerns
• Multiple supplements
• A broader pattern suggesting nutritional imbalance

then looking beyond the gumline alone may be useful.

Could HTMA add useful information?

Sometimes — when mineral nutrition is genuinely part of the wider question.

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis measures selected minerals and elements in a hair sample.

It can provide additional information about longer-term mineral patterns.

That information may be useful when considered alongside:

• Your usual diet
• Your health history
• Your digestive health
• Your medicines
• Your supplements
• Other nutritional or metabolic concerns
• Other appropriate clinical or laboratory information where needed

For example, if someone has recession alongside a restricted diet, digestive problems, several supplements or wider mineral-nutrition concerns, it may be reasonable to explore the nutritional picture more closely.

If an important mineral pattern is identified, it can help guide the next questions about diet, supplements and whether further investigation may be useful.

Explore HTMA

When can treatment help?

Not every receding gum needs surgery.

If recession is stable, comfortable and easy to keep clean, monitoring may be enough.

If sensitivity is the main problem

Desensitising toothpaste or professional desensitising treatment may be enough.

If the recession is progressing

The first priority is to identify and reduce the factor driving it.

If the root is damaged

A dentist may consider restorative treatment where there is significant root wear, erosion or decay.

If root coverage is appropriate

A periodontist may consider gum grafting or another periodontal plastic-surgery procedure.

Depending on the individual case, treatment may aim to:

• Cover some or all of the exposed root
• Increase gum thickness
• Reduce sensitivity
• Improve appearance
• Make cleaning easier
• Improve tissue stability

Complete root coverage is not guaranteed.

When should I see a dentist?

If you notice the gumline moving, it is worth finding out why.

Arrange an assessment particularly if:

• The recession appears to be getting worse
• Several teeth are affected
• Your gums also bleed or swell
• You have persistent sensitivity
• The root looks worn, notched or discoloured
• A tooth feels loose
• Cleaning the area is uncomfortable
• A piercing is touching the gums
• The recession appeared during orthodontic treatment
• You are concerned about the appearance

A dentist can examine the gums, measure the recession and assess factors such as:

• Plaque and inflammation
• Periodontal health
• Bone support
• Tooth position
• Brushing trauma
• Root wear
• Bite and local forces

How we can help

Receding gums are primarily an oral-health problem.

The gum itself should be assessed appropriately.

But for some people there is also a wider nutritional question.

For example:

Is my diet, gut health, mineral balance or broader nutritional picture giving my gums and supporting tissues what they need?

The bottom line

Receding gums do not mean you are powerless.

Established lost gum tissue does not reliably regrow by itself.

But you may still be able to:

• Stop or slow further recession
• Correct traumatic brushing
• Improve plaque control
• Reduce sensitivity
• Protect the exposed root
• Address smoking or local trauma
• Explore the wider nutritional picture when relevant
• Consider periodontal root-coverage treatment where appropriate

Do not wait until the tooth looks dramatically longer. Find out why the gum is moving now.

Related reading

If bleeding is also part of the problem:

Bleeding Gums: Why They Bleed, How to Stop It and When to See a Dentist

If digestive health, diet or nutrient absorption may also be part of your wider nutritional picture:

Gut Health: What Your Microbiome Actually Does

Research record

First published: 28 August 2026
Last reviewed: 28 August 2026
Latest evidence update: 28 August 2026

Key evidence and guidance

• Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme. Gingival recession. UK clinical guidance on identifying contributory factors, brushing technique, sensitivity and monitoring.
• Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Gum grafting procedure. Patient information on gum recession and soft-tissue grafting.
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Periodontal surgery. Patient guidance on periodontal procedures, recession and root coverage.
• British Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry. Patient information and gum-health resources. Professional UK periodontal information.
• NICE. Oral health promotion: general dental practice. UK guidance on oral hygiene, diet, smoking and preventive dental care.
• NICE. Dental checks: intervals between oral health reviews. Risk-based guidance on dental review intervals.
• NHS. How to keep your teeth clean. Guidance on toothbrushing, fluoride toothpaste and interdental cleaning.