Gums usually recede for one of two reasons: brushing too hard, or periodontitis, in which the bone around the tooth breaks down. What has receded does not grow back by itself. But once the cause is treated, the recession can usually be stopped. So the first question is why it is happening.
Updated: 9 November 2026
How to recognise it
- Your teeth look longer than before.
- The tooth necks react sensitively to cold, sweet or acidic food.
- Small dark triangles appear between the teeth.
- You can feel a fine step at the neck of the tooth.
Typical causes
- Brushing with too much pressure or with a hard brush. It often affects the canines and the front premolars.
- Periodontitis: the inflammation breaks down bone, and the gum follows. This often happens without pain, sometimes with bleeding or bad breath.
- Grinding and clenching put additional strain on the teeth.
- Other factors: naturally thin gums, earlier braces, smoking, a lip or tongue piercing.
What helps
- Find the cause: we measure the gum pockets and use digital X-rays to see how the bone is doing.
- Brush more gently: a soft brush, little pressure, small movements. Electric toothbrushes with a pressure sensor show you when it is too much.
- Have a dental hygiene appointment regularly, so that no plaque settles at the gum line.
- If it is periodontitis: systematic treatment, so that the inflammation comes to a standstill and no more bone is lost.
- Sensitive tooth necks: a toothpaste for sensitive teeth or a protective varnish from the practice eases the discomfort.
Can gums be rebuilt?
In some cases, an exposed tooth neck can be covered again with a small surgical procedure. Whether this makes sense and is possible depends on the bone and on the cause. We advise you on this once the cause has been treated.
