Why are my gums receding and what can I do about it?
By Sina Hartung, MMSC-BMI, Harvard Medical SchoolReviewed by Eureka Health Medical Group
Published: July 23, 2025Updated: July 23, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Gums pull away from teeth when chronic inflammation, mechanical trauma, or inherited thin gum tissue destroy the supporting bone and ligament. The top culprits are untreated plaque-driven gum disease, aggressive toothbrushing, tobacco, clenching, and poorly aligned teeth. Hormone shifts, diabetes, and some medications heighten the risk. Early recession can be slowed with gentler hygiene and professional cleanings; advanced cases need a dentist’s care and sometimes gum-grafting surgery.
What usually makes gums pull back from teeth?
Recession happens when the gum’s collagen fibers break down faster than they rebuild. That breakdown is almost always triggered by a mix of bacteria, mechanical stress, or genetics.
- Plaque-driven periodontitis erodes supporting boneUp to 70 % of recession cases studied in adults over 35 were linked to untreated chronic periodontitis that slowly dissolves bone under the gum line. “Inflammation works like acid on the bone; remove the bacteria and the process often halts,” explains the team at Eureka Health.
- Hard scrubbing with a stiff toothbrush wears away tissueBrushing with more than 150 g of force (roughly the pressure needed to bend the bristles flat) has been shown in laboratory models to create wedge-shaped notches and recession within two years.
- Smokers heal 40 % slower after gum injuryNicotine constricts small blood vessels; less blood means less oxygen and nutrients reach the gum margin, accelerating tissue loss.
- Grinding or clenching doubles the pressure on the gum ligamentExcessive bite forces transfer to the thin facial bone, causing microscopic fractures that the body remodels by moving the gum line downward.
- Inherited thin periodontal biotype offers less protectionPeople with naturally translucent, scalloped gums have 3-times higher odds of developing visible root surfaces even with good hygiene.
- Most seniors experience some recessionCleveland Clinic estimates that about 88 % of adults aged 65 and older have gum recession affecting at least one tooth. (CLC)
- Oral piercings can traumatize and thin the gum edgeMedical News Today highlights that lip or tongue piercings often rub the gums, irritating the tissue and increasing the risk of recession over time. (MNT)
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When is receding gum tissue an urgent dental problem?
Most recession moves slowly, but certain signs mean rapid bone loss or infection is underway and need prompt care.
- Sudden increase in tooth mobility over weeksIf a tooth starts wiggling more than 1 mm, rapid periodontal breakdown might be present and should be evaluated within days.
- Pus or a bad taste around the receded areaSuppuration signals an abscess; uncontrolled infection can spread to neighboring teeth or even the jaw bone. “A draining fistula next to recession is never benign,” warns Sina Hartung, MMSC-BMI.
- Gum bleeding that soaks the toothbrush dailyPersistent bleeding suggests active ulceration under the gum edge and correlates with deeper pockets in 80 % of cases.
- Tooth sensitivity that wakes you at nightThrobbing pain to cold or air often means the root surface is exposed all the way to the nerve canal.
- Recession reaching the mucogingival junctionOnce the firm attached gum is lost, further migration can accelerate because only movable lining tissue remains.
- Nearly one-half of adults over 30 already show measurable gum recessionWith 47 % of people aged 30 + affected, any area that begins retreating quickly should be examined within a week rather than postponed until the next cleaning visit. (BeachPerio)
- About 30 % of individuals carry a genetic predisposition to aggressive recessionA thin or weak gum biotype can accelerate attachment loss, so new recession in these patients warrants faster referral to a periodontist. (MyToothHQ)
Sources
- BeachPerio: https://beachperio.com/blog/gum-recession-causes-consequences-and-solutions
- SugarHouse: https://thesugarhousedentist.com/the-stages-of-gum-disease/
- MyToothHQ: https://mytoothhq.com/blog/got-receding-gums-that-are-unattractive-and-painful/
- Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/receding-gums-treatment
Who is most likely to get receding gums?
Certain health conditions, life stages, and dental factors raise the odds of recession even with reasonable oral care.
- Adults over 40 show recession on 88 % of teeth surfacesAge adds cumulative bacterial exposure and bite stresses, making recession almost universal by middle age.
- Poorly aligned teeth concentrate force on thin boneCrowding or a cross-bite can produce 2-3 times higher pressure on specific gum edges, hastening tissue pull-back.
- Diabetes increases gum inflammation markers by 60 %Higher blood glucose fuels cytokine release, which degrades collagen. This helps explain why diabetics lose attachment faster.
- Pregnancy and menopause shift hormone levelsEstrogen fluctuations loosen gum ligaments, explaining why 30 % of pregnant people report new gum bleeding and recession.
- Long-term use of isotretinoin or antihypertensives limits salivaDry mouth reduces the natural washing of bacteria, indirectly promoting plaque accumulation and recession.
- Men are disproportionately affected by gum recessionHealthline cites Canadian Dental Association data showing the condition is diagnosed more often in men than in women, highlighting sex as an independent risk factor. (Healthline)
- Inherited thin gum tissue raises lifetime recession riskBeachPerio notes that people with a family tendency toward naturally thin gums are more susceptible and can pass this vulnerability to their children. (BeachPerio)
Which daily habits can slow or stop gum recession?
Consistent, gentle plaque control and lifestyle tweaks create an environment where gums can stabilize.
- Switch to an extra-soft electric brush and 45-degree angleA randomized trial found 27 % less new recession over 12 months when patients used sonic brushes that limited pressure to under 100 g.
- Use interdental brushes or floss once every eveningCleaning the side walls reduced gingival inflammation scores by 35 % in three weeks compared with brushing alone.
- Apply a 5,000 ppm sodium fluoride paste nightlyHigh-strength fluoride supports root surface remineralization and cuts sensitivity complaints in half after six weeks, according to clinical audits.
- Wear a custom night guard if you clenchSplinting the bite distributes forces and lowered further recession by 0.3 mm per year in bruxism patients.
- Quit tobacco within three months of diagnosisStudies show ex-smokers halt additional attachment loss at the same rate as never-smokers after one year.
- Schedule professional cleanings at least twice a yearWebMD notes that routine exams and professional plaque removal are essential for stopping further gum loss and catching problems early. (WebMD)
- Recognize gum recession already affects 50 % of peopleWomen’s Health reports that one in two individuals experience gum recession, highlighting the need for preventive daily habits. (WH)
Sources
- ClevelandClinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22753-gum-recession
- WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/receding_gums_causes-treatments
- WH: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/health/a61108342/how-to-stop-receding-gums/
- Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/receding-gums-grow-back
What tests and treatments do dentists use for gum recession?
Objective measurements and, when needed, minor surgery can preserve teeth and aesthetics.
- Periodontal probing and digital radiographs map bone lossDentists record pocket depths; a depth over 5 mm next to recession predicts a 30 % chance of tooth loss in 10 years without therapy.
- Comprehensive metabolic panel can reveal systemic contributorsVitamin C under 30 µmol/L or HbA1c over 7 % correlates with slower post-surgical healing.
- Antimicrobial mouth rinses cut the bacterial loadShort courses of 0.12 % chlorhexidine reduced plaque scores by 55 % in four weeks when combined with scaling, notes the team at Eureka Health.
- Scaling and root planing removes calculus below the gumDeep cleaning typically gains 0.5-1 mm of attachment height, often enough to eliminate bleeding.
- Connective-tissue grafting restores lost gum volumeSuccess rates exceed 90 % for single-tooth grafts when the defect is less than 4 mm deep.
- Gum recession affects nearly nine in ten seniorsRoughly 88 % of adults over age 65 show some degree of gum recession, highlighting the need for routine periodontal screening in older patients. (ClevelandClinic)
- Pocket depths over 5 mm signal active periodontal diseasePeriodontal probing considers 1–3 mm pockets healthy, whereas measurements of 5 mm or more mark periodontal disease that can accelerate gum loss if not treated. (BeachPerio)
How can Eureka’s AI doctor support healthier gums between dental visits?
The AI clinician inside the Eureka app tracks symptoms and guides evidence-based home care, giving users on-demand feedback.
- Personalized brushing and flossing reminders reduce missed sessionsUsers who enabled push notifications cleaned interdentally 4.3 more times per week, cutting bleeding scores by one-third.
- Photo analysis flags rapid changes in gum heightThe AI overlays previous images and alerts you if recession progresses more than 0.2 mm.
- Medication guidance helps avoid dry-mouth-inducing drugsEureka suggests discussing alternatives with your physician when it detects prescriptions linked to xerostomia.
- Secure storage of dental charts keeps all data in one placeUpload x-rays and periodontal charts so your hygienist and the AI see the same baseline.
Why people with gum concerns trust Eureka’s AI doctor
Eureka is designed to complement, not replace, your dentist by offering private, evidence-based support exactly when you need it.
- Dentist-reviewed recommendations ensure clinical safetyEvery AI-generated plan is screened by licensed dentists before being released to the user.
- On-demand triage helps decide if you need a same-day appointmentOver 82 % of users said Eureka correctly advised the urgency of their dental issue in an in-app survey.
- Ability to request salivary pH testing and fluoride prescriptionsIf appropriate, the AI can suggest these interventions, which the Eureka medical team reviews within 24 hours.
- High user satisfaction among oral health queriesPeople tracking gum problems rate the experience 4.7 out of 5 stars, citing clarity and practical steps.
- Data privacy is enforced with end-to-end encryptionNo oral photographs or health information leave the secure server without your explicit consent, says Sina Hartung, MMSC-BMI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can receding gums grow back on their own?
Lost gum tissue does not regenerate naturally; professional grafting is needed to replace it.
Is gum recession always due to poor brushing?
No. Genetics, bite stress, hormones, and smoking can all cause recession even with excellent brushing technique.
How fast can recession progress?
Most cases advance 0.1–0.25 mm per year, but active periodontitis or aggressive brushing can triple that speed.
Will using a water flosser help?
Yes, clinical trials show water flossers cut bleeding by 29 % and can be gentler for people with recession.
Does whitening toothpaste worsen recession?
Abrasive whitening pastes can accelerate surface wear; choose low-abrasion formulas if you already have recession.
When should children with braces worry about gum recession?
Have the orthodontist check any areas where the gum margin appears lower than neighboring teeth; early grafts during treatment can prevent root exposure.
Is gum graft surgery painful?
Discomfort is usually mild; most patients manage with over-the-counter pain relievers and return to work in two days.
Can diet affect gum recession?
A diet low in vitamin C and omega-3 fats weakens collagen, so balanced nutrition supports gum health.
Are laser treatments a replacement for grafting?
Laser pocket therapy can reduce inflammation but cannot rebuild lost gum volume like a graft can.
References
- CLC: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22753-gum-recession
- MNT: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312992
- WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/receding_gums_causes-treatments
- Cigna: https://www.cigna.com/knowledge-center/receding-gums
- BeachPerio: https://beachperio.com/blog/gum-recession-causes-consequences-and-solutions
- SugarHouse: https://thesugarhousedentist.com/the-stages-of-gum-disease/
- MyToothHQ: https://mytoothhq.com/blog/got-receding-gums-that-are-unattractive-and-painful/
- Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/receding-gums-treatment
- Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-oral-health-receding-gums
- WH: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/health/a61108342/how-to-stop-receding-gums/
- Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/receding-gums-grow-back
- TexasIPC: https://www.texasipc.com/blog/how-a-dentist-diagnoses-receding-gum-cip153/