Symptoms & conditions
Gum recession
The short answer
Gums have pulled back, exposing tooth roots. Causes: hard brushing (40% of cases), periodontal disease, grinding, or genetics. Recession doesn't reverse by itself — early action (soft-brushing retraining, cleaning, bonding) prevents further loss; advanced cases need gum grafts.
What's happening
The clinical picture
The visible tooth should end roughly where the gum line sits. When gums recede, the softer root surface (no enamel) gets exposed. It looks aesthetically bad — teeth appear "longer" — but the real problem is that roots are more prone to sensitivity, decay at the exposed area, and eventual tooth loss if the recession keeps advancing. Medium-hard toothbrush + aggressive horizontal brushing is the single most common cause. Swap to a soft brush and vertical brushing, and most early recession stabilises.
Warning signs
Contact us the same day if:
- Visible yellow/darker root surface at the gum margin
- Sensitivity at the gum line to cold or sweet
- "V-shaped" notches cut into the tooth near the gum
- Recession progressing visibly month-to-month
- One or more teeth noticeably "longer" than before
What we do
Our approach
Measure recession at each tooth, identify the cause (brushing technique, periodontitis, bruxism), and set a conservation plan. Soft-brush coaching, fluoride varnish on exposed roots, composite bonding to cover severe exposure, or in advanced cases referral for a gum graft with a periodontist.
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