Free tool
Receding gums or normal?
Some teeth are simply long, and some gum lines are naturally uneven. Six questions sort recession from a tall tooth or normal gum shape, and say what to watch next.
How this check decides
A tooth can look long for three different reasons. The gum may have moved away from the enamel edge, which is recession. The tooth may simply be long, or sit in a smile with a high lip line that shows more of it. Or the gum line may be naturally scalloped or uneven, with one tooth's gum sitting a little higher than its neighbours.
The check looks for what separates them: whether there is a band of root between the shiny crown and the gum, whether the tooth matches its partner on the other side, whether it has changed since old photos, and what the gum edge looks like. Sensitivity and a history of braces add weight. The result is one of the app's own verdicts, with the reasons listed.
Signs it is recession
- A band of yellower, duller tooth between the shiny crown and the gum.
- The tooth looks longer than it does in old photos.
- It is clearly longer than the same tooth on the other side.
- A twinge with cold drinks right at the gum line.
- A notch or groove at the gum line.
Signs it is your normal shape
- The shiny enamel runs right down to the gum.
- The tooth matches its partner on the other side.
- It looks the same in photos from years ago.
- The gum is pink, firm and smoothly curved.
Heads up
Red, puffy or shiny gum that bleeds easily is inflammation, and it can hide recession or make a gum line look uneven when it is not. Get that looked at first.
What to do next
- Take a close photo of the tooth today, in daylight, with the lip pulled away. The dentist visit prep page shows the four angles.
- In 3 months, take the same photo the same way and compare where the gum meets the tooth.
- If the result read as recession, use the stage checker and book a dentist in the next few weeks.
- If you are not sure, ask at your next checkup. A dentist can tell recession from tooth shape in a few seconds with a probe.
When to see a dentist
See your dentist soon if your gums bleed on their own, there is pus or a bump on the gum, a gum is swollen, a tooth feels loose, there is pain, or a tooth looks longer within weeks. Otherwise, mention it at your next routine visit.
New guides are on the way. Until then, start here or see every guide.
Sources
Signs of recession and its causes follow the American Academy of Periodontology, the American Dental Association and Cleveland Clinic patient information on gum recession. The note on lip line and tooth display follows standard dental descriptions of smile anatomy.
Questions
What do receding gums look like?
A band of slightly yellower, duller tooth between the shiny crown and the gum, a tooth that looks longer than it used to, or small dark triangles between teeth. It most often shows first on the lower front teeth and the canines.
Can teeth just be naturally long?
Yes. Some people have long teeth, and a high lip line shows more of them. If the shiny enamel runs right down to the gum and the tooth matches its partner on the other side, it is usually your normal shape rather than recession.
Is an uneven gum line normal?
Often, yes. Gum lines are naturally scalloped, and one tooth's gum can sit a little higher than its neighbours, especially on a tooth that sits further out. It becomes worth watching when it changes over months or shows root.
Do receding gums always hurt?
No. Recession is usually painless and slow, which is why it is easy to miss. A twinge with cold at the gum line is common where root is exposed. Pain, swelling or a loose tooth is not typical of slow recession and needs a dentist soon.
Is this a diagnosis?
No. GumScout gives an AI estimate from photos. It is not a dental exam and cannot diagnose gum disease. This check is general information from your answers; a dentist can confirm what is going on.