How to Fix Receding Gums

Quick Summary

Receding gums happen when the gumline pulls away from the tooth, exposing the root. That can make teeth look longer, trigger sensitivity, and raise the risk of root cavities. Recession does not grow back on its own, so the goal is to stop what is causing the tissue loss and, when needed, rebuild or reposition the gum for better protection. A periodontist can measure recession, identify the main drivers like brushing pressure, gum disease, grinding, thin tissue, or muscle pull, then recommend options such as grafting, soft tissue matrices, biologic support like A-PRF, or a minimally invasive RejuvaGum Lift approach in select cases.

Key Takeaways

• If you notice new sensitivity, exposed roots, or a gumline that is slowly moving, get it evaluated early, since recession tends to worsen over time and can eventually affect bone support.

• Fixing the cause matters as much as the procedure. Gentle brushing with a soft brush, daily interdental cleaning, and addressing grinding or a tight frenum helps keep results stable.

• Treatment is personalized. Some people need grafting to add durable tissue, others benefit from tunnel techniques or tissue matrices, and some cases may include biologics like A-PRF to support healing.

• Healing is a process. Expect a short period of tenderness and careful hygiene, then gradual strengthening over weeks, with final color and contour blending over a few months. Long-term success depends on maintenance visits and the right home-care routine.

When you smile, is your gum line higher than it should be? Do you have a “toothy” grin? Gum recession is a common reason why. As gums pull back, roots lose protection, sensitivity increases, and the risk of root cavities goes up. The good news is that periodontists can stabilize thin tissue and, in many cases, cover exposed roots with modern techniques.

What Causes Receding Gums?

Aggressive Tooth Brushing

Brushing with too much pressure or using stiff bristles can wear away the gumline and create notches in the enamel near the neck of the tooth. If your brush bristles splay outward, you are likely brushing too hard. Use a soft toothbrush and light pressure that only causes gentle blanching of the gum.

Periodontal Disease

Untreated gum disease is a common cause of recession. When bacteria remain along or under the gums, the tissue becomes inflamed and pulls away from the tooth. As detachment increases, plaque and tartar accumulate more deeply. Early professional treatment is essential. Advanced infections may require open flap access in addition to therapy for recession.

Trauma or Injury

Physical injuries such as sports impacts or accidents can damage gum tissue and leave scarring around specific teeth. This irritation can make the gumline recede over time, especially if the area is difficult to keep clean during healing.

Tobacco Use

Smoking and smokeless tobacco irritate and dry the tissues around teeth. Many smokeless products contain fine abrasives that increase wear where the product is placed, leading to localized recession. Quitting and treating the affected sites can help protect the gumline.

Tooth Misalignment or Orthodontic Appliances

Teeth positioned outside the bony housing or moved too quickly during orthodontics may develop thin or receding gums. A misaligned tooth can appear longer or show exposed root while neighboring teeth do not. Careful orthodontic planning and, when needed, soft tissue grafting can improve stability.

Clenching and Grinding

Nighttime grinding and daytime clenching place heavy, repeated forces on teeth. These forces can flex the tooth at the neck and contribute to notching and sensitivity near areas of recession. A custom night guard and bite adjustments can reduce stress on the gumline and protect results after treatment.

Thin Tissue Biotype

Some people naturally have a thin, delicate band of gum that offers less protection against brushing, friction, or muscle pull. Thin tissue is more likely to recede and less likely to rebound after irritation. Periodontal grafting or soft tissue matrices can add thickness and improve resilience.

High Frenum or Strong Muscle Pull

A tight frenum or strong muscle attachment near the gumline can tug the tissue away from the tooth with every smile or brush stroke. This constant pull makes it hard for the area to stay stable. A simple frenum release, often combined with grafting, can remove the tension and help the site remain healthy.

Oral Piercings

Lip and tongue jewelry can repeatedly rub the gumline and chip enamel, creating a chronic irritation point. Over time, the tissue thins and recedes where the jewelry contacts it most. Removing or changing the jewelry and treating the irritated site can prevent further damage.

Dry Mouth

Low saliva flow from medications or medical conditions reduces the mouth’s natural buffering and cleansing. Plaque and acids sit longer at the gumline, increasing irritation and the risk of root decay on exposed surfaces. Hydration, saliva substitutes, xylitol products, and prescription fluoride can help protect vulnerable tissues and roots.

Can Gum Recession Get Worse?

Left alone, areas of gum recession do not and cannot repair themselves. While you can prevent receding gums through good home care, poor dental hygiene will only allow tissue loss to get worse. The difference may seem minimal from one visit to the next, but over several months or years, your tissue loss will also compromise the bone that supports your teeth. Recession is a serious dental problem that is best addressed in the early stages before serious bone loss and tooth mobility occur.

How fast can recession progress?

Progress varies. Some sites remain stable for years with careful home care and routine maintenance. Others with thin tissue, strong muscle pull, or ongoing inflammation can worsen faster. Periodic measurements during hygiene visits help catch small changes early, when treatment is simpler and more predictable.

When to Treat Receding Gums

How can you tell when the best time to treat receding gums is? The short answer is, “it depends.”

You might decide to wait until severe cases of recession are causing visible black triangles or spaces between your teeth. These areas can be unattractive, but they also harbor food and tartar buildup, which contribute to gum disease.

Or maybe you’ve already completed gum disease treatment (like a deep cleaning) and now that the inflammation has died down, you notice at least one tooth has a visible root surface.

Left untreated, exposed root surfaces don’t just put you at risk for tooth mobility. They also drastically raise your chances of root-surface cavities and tooth sensitivity.

Choosing to jump-start the healing process eliminates gum problems before they cause further damage.

Good reasons to treat now

• Sensitivity that persists despite using a desensitizing toothpaste
• Root cavities or plaque that is hard to remove near the gumline
• Thin, fragile tissue that bleeds or tears easily
• Planned orthodontic movement near thin tissue
• Visible root in the smile zone

When monitoring can be reasonable

• Stable measurements over multiple checkups
• Thick, healthy tissue that is easy to keep clean
• No sensitivity and no upcoming orthodontic or restorative work

Your periodontist can record baselines, coach home care, and set shorter recall intervals to confirm stability.

Receding gums before treatment shown above

How to Treat Gum Recession

Treatment overview

The Center for Advanced Periodontal & Implant Therapy plans care in two steps. First, remove the drivers of recession such as inflammation, heavy brushing, or a tight frenum. Second, strengthen and, when appropriate, reposition the gum with a procedure matched to the recession pattern. Options include connective tissue grafting, tunnel or envelope techniques, soft tissue matrices, and biologic support such as A-PRF. Select cases may qualify for RejuvaGum Lift using the patient’s own blood concentrate.

Additionally, you’ll want to identify the cause of your gum recession and take steps to address those issues. If you treat receding gums, the affected gum tissue can continue to creep back again when the original cause is not addressed. 

Using Grafts to Treat Receding Gums

One of the most direct ways to counteract tissue loss from gum disease or trauma is with a gum graft. Gum grafts use tissue from another part of your mouth (usually the roof) or an allograft material to physically re-cover the exposed tooth roots. Gum grafts are essentially like adding new skin in an area where there isn’t any. Cared for properly, your gum graft will “take” and attach to both the affected teeth as well as the immediately adjacent skin. 

Traditional grafting is fairly common when gum recession occurs from physical trauma or cases of serious gum disease you had in the past. Once the tissues in that area are healthy, usually following scaling and root planing, a graft may be needed to stabilize your smile and prevent tooth loss. 

Grafting techniques your periodontist may recommend

• Connective tissue graft (palatal donor): Often the first choice for visible teeth. Adds thickness and can cover exposed roots in many cases.
• Free gingival graft: Builds a durable band of attached tissue to resist pull, common for lower incisors or near strong muscle attachments.
• Tunnel or envelope approach: Small access points allow placement of graft or matrix under the gum with minimal surface incisions.
• Soft tissue matrices (allograft or collagen): Donor or engineered materials can reduce a second surgical site while improving thickness.
• Coronally advanced flap: In suitable cases, the gum is advanced to cover the root and paired with a graft or matrix for stability.

RejuvaGum Lift™ Gum Graft Alternative

Are you looking for a non-surgical or minimally invasive option for treating gingival recession? A lot of people have heard of the “pinhole” surgical technique, but pinhole gum surgery still involves stretching the gum tissues. Instead, our Los Angeles gum expert uses a surgical alternative called the RejuvaGum Lift™. 

During a RejuvaGum Lift™ procedure, we take your body’s own blood clotting, fibrin (PRF), and growth factors from a small vial of your blood and separate them in a centrifuge. Those cells are then placed directly behind the receding gums, telling your body’s natural tissues to regrow themselves. PRF techniques are scientifically proven to help regrow tissues and cartilage in other areas of the body. Today, we can also use them to promote better oral health and help receding gums grow back on their own. RejuvaGum Lift™ replaces the need for using graft tissue and is a comfortable procedure to complete. 

A-PRF and biologics in soft tissue healing

Advanced platelet-rich fibrin concentrates growth factors in a fibrin matrix. When used with minimally invasive access or with grafting, A-PRF can support early healing and tissue quality. Your periodontist will advise whether a biologic-assisted approach is likely to improve comfort or predictability for your specific site.

What to expect after treatment

• Day 1 to 3: Local tenderness and mild swelling are common. Follow cold compress, medication, and soft food guidance. Avoid brushing the surgical site.
• Week 1 to 2: Sutures may be removed. Gentle rinsing and careful hygiene start or continue as directed.
• Week 3 to 6: Tissue strengthens. Avoid tugging on the area with floss or picks until cleared.
• Month 2 to 6: Final contour and color blend in. Long-term results rely on gentle brushing, interdental cleaning, and regular periodontal maintenance.

Keep results stable

• Use a soft brush or a pressure-sensing electric brush
• Light fingertip pressure that just blanches the gum
• Short, gentle strokes or small circles at a 45-degree angle
• Clean between teeth daily
• Wear a night guard if grinding is present
• Address a tight frenum if recommended
• Maintain periodontal visits on the schedule your specialist sets

Cost and Insurance

Fees depend on how many teeth are treated, materials used, and whether donor tissue, matrices, or biologics are involved. Many benefit plans offer partial coverage when there is documented sensitivity, root exposure, or a need to increase attached tissue. The office team can verify benefits and provide a written estimate before treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Can receding gums grow back naturally? No. Once tissue has receded, it does not regrow on its own. Treatment can cover roots and thicken tissue to protect the area.

Is the pinhole method used here? Minimally invasive access can help in select cases. The clinicians often combine small access with grafts, matrices, or A-PRF when it improves stability or comfort. Suitability depends on the recession pattern.

Will every exposed root get full coverage? Coverage depends on tooth position, tissue thickness, and the condition of the bone. Even if full coverage is not possible, adding durable tissue can reduce sensitivity and help prevent further loss.

How long do results last? With gentle home care and regular maintenance, grafted or thickened tissue can stay healthy for many years. Preventing the original cause is essential.

Can orthodontics help or hurt recession? Planned movement inside the bony housing can align teeth and improve hygiene access. Moving teeth too quickly or outside the bony envelope raises risk. Coordination between the orthodontist and periodontist is important.

Do I need treatment if I am not in pain? Pain is not a reliable indicator. If tissue is thin or recession is progressing, early treatment can prevent sensitivity, root decay, and more complex procedures later.

Stop Receding Gums

Exposed roots can lead to sensitivity, decay, and further tissue loss. The Center for Advanced Periodontal & Implant Therapy provides soft tissue grafting, biologic-assisted care, and non-surgical options to protect vulnerable areas and improve comfort.

Contact our gum specialists in Los Angeles today to reserve a gingival recession consultation.

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