Gum recession happens when the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back or wears away, exposing more of the tooth or even the tooth’s root. It’s remarkably common: more than 50 percent of people aged 18 to 64 have at least one site of recession, and that number climbs to 88 percent in adults 65 and older. The causes range from everyday habits like brushing too hard to deeper factors like genetics and hormonal changes.
Periodontal Disease Is the Leading Cause
Bacterial infections of the gums and the bone that supports your teeth are the single biggest driver of recession. When plaque (the sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth) isn’t removed, it hardens into tarite, also called calculus. That buildup triggers chronic inflammation, which gradually destroys the gum tissue and the underlying bone. As bone is lost, the gums follow it downward, pulling away from the tooth.
This process is slow and often painless in its early stages, which is why many people don’t notice recession until a tooth looks noticeably longer or feels sensitive to cold drinks. Your dentist checks for this by measuring the depth of the pockets between your gums and teeth. Deeper pockets signal that bone loss is already underway.
Brushing Too Hard
Aggressive brushing is one of the most common causes of recession in people who otherwise take good care of their teeth. Using a hard-bristled toothbrush, pressing too firmly, or scrubbing side to side can physically wear down thin gum tissue over months and years. The damage tends to show up on the outer surfaces of the upper teeth, where people apply the most pressure.
Switching to a soft-bristled brush and using gentle, circular strokes instead of a sawing motion can stop further mechanical damage. Electric toothbrushes with pressure sensors are also helpful because they alert you when you’re pushing too hard.
Genetics and Gum Thickness
Some people are simply born with thinner gum tissue, and this makes a real difference. Dentists categorize gum tissue into “biotypes.” A thick biotype measures more than 1 millimeter in depth, while a thin biotype falls below that threshold. Thin gum tissue appears more translucent, is more delicate, and is significantly more susceptible to both inflammation and physical injury. Multiple studies have found that people with narrow, thin gums experience more recession regardless of how well they brush.
You can’t change your genetics, but knowing you have thin tissue helps you and your dentist stay ahead of the problem. More frequent cleanings and gentler brushing habits become especially important if you fall into this category.
Smoking and Tobacco Use
Tobacco damages gum tissue in two ways. First, it reduces the oxygen level in your blood, which starves the gums of what they need to stay healthy and repair themselves. Second, it weakens your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off the bacterial infections that cause periodontal disease. The combination means smokers develop more gum disease, heal more slowly from it, and lose gum tissue faster than nonsmokers.
Chewing tobacco carries its own additional risk. The tobacco sits directly against the gum tissue for extended periods, causing localized irritation and chemical damage that accelerates recession in the area where the chew is placed.
Hormonal Changes in Women
Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone directly affect gum tissue. When these hormones rise, more blood flows to the gums, making them more sensitive and more reactive to even small amounts of plaque. This is why some women notice their gums become red, swollen, or bleed easily at certain points in their menstrual cycle or during pregnancy.
Pregnancy gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease, is most common between the second and eighth months of pregnancy. While it usually resolves after delivery, repeated bouts of inflammation can contribute to lasting tissue changes. Menopause poses a different risk: the drop in estrogen that comes with it can lead to a loss of bone density throughout the body, including the jawbone. When jawbone density decreases, the gums recede to follow the shrinking bone, exposing more of the tooth surface.
Tooth Misalignment and Bite Issues
When teeth are crooked, crowded, or otherwise out of alignment, the forces of biting and chewing aren’t distributed evenly. Certain teeth absorb more pressure than they’re designed to handle, and over time that excess force can push gum tissue away from the tooth. A misaligned bite also makes some areas harder to clean, allowing plaque to accumulate in spots that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush or floss.
Teeth grinding (bruxism), which often happens during sleep, creates similar problems. The repeated lateral pressure on teeth flexes them slightly at the gumline, gradually breaking down both the enamel and the gum attachment in that area.
Piercings, Trauma, and Other Physical Causes
Lip and tongue piercings are an underappreciated cause of recession. Metal jewelry that rubs or clicks against the gums creates constant low-grade friction. Over months, that contact wears through the tissue, particularly on the inner surface of the lower front teeth where tongue piercings tend to make contact. Some studies have found significant recession in piercing wearers within just a few years of getting the jewelry.
Direct trauma to the gums, whether from a sports injury, an ill-fitting dental appliance, or an accident, can also trigger recession if the tissue doesn’t fully heal. Even habits like holding objects between your teeth (bobby pins, pens) can create enough repetitive stress to damage the gumline over time.
What Recession Looks Like as It Progresses
The earliest sign is often sensitivity. When gum tissue pulls away even slightly, it exposes the root surface of the tooth, which lacks the hard enamel coating that protects the crown. That exposed root reacts to hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and drinks in a way the rest of the tooth doesn’t. You might also notice that a tooth looks longer than its neighbors, or you can feel a notch with your fingernail where the gum meets the tooth.
As recession advances, the gaps between teeth near the gumline can widen, creating spaces where food gets trapped easily. Bone loss is common in areas of recession, and once enough bone is gone, teeth start to feel loose or “wiggly.” Without intervention, the end result can be tooth loss. The progression from early sensitivity to loose teeth typically takes years, which means there’s a wide window to catch and address the problem if you’re paying attention.
How Recession Is Managed
Treatment depends on the cause and severity. For mild recession driven by brushing habits, changing your technique and using a desensitizing toothpaste may be enough to stop the progression and manage sensitivity. If plaque buildup or periodontal disease is the underlying issue, a deep cleaning that removes tartar from below the gumline is usually the first step. This allows the gum tissue to reattach more snugly to the tooth.
For more advanced recession, gum grafting is the most common surgical option. A periodontist takes a small piece of tissue, often from the roof of your mouth, and attaches it over the exposed root. Recovery typically takes one to two weeks, and the grafted tissue blends in with the surrounding gums over the following months. Newer techniques use donated tissue or collagen-based materials instead, which eliminates the need for a second surgical site in your mouth.
Regardless of the treatment, addressing the underlying cause is essential. A graft won’t last if you continue grinding your teeth without a night guard, or if periodontal disease goes untreated. The most effective approach combines correcting the habit or condition that caused the recession with restoring the tissue that’s already been lost.