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Why are my gums receding?
Recession almost always has a cause, and most people have more than one. Nine questions rank the likely ones for you, with the one thing to change for each.
The usual causes
- Brushing too hard. Scrubbing side to side, a hard brush, or pressing hard with any brush wears the gum and can cut a notch into the tooth. It often shows more on the side opposite your brushing hand.
- Gum inflammation and gum disease. Plaque and hardened deposits along the gum line keep the gum inflamed. Over time gum disease can destroy the bone that holds the gum up, and the gum follows it down. Bleeding when you brush is the early sign.
- Grinding and clenching. The force may add to recession and to notches at the gum line, though how much is still debated.
- Teeth moved by braces or aligners. A tooth pushed outward ends up with thinner gum and bone over its root.
- Lip and tongue piercings. A stud that rubs the gum is a known cause of recession on the lower front teeth.
- Smoking and other tobacco. One of the strongest risks for gum disease, and it can hide the bleeding that would warn you.
- Thin gums. Some people are born with thinner gum tissue, and recession often runs in families. You cannot change this, which makes the others matter more.
What changing the cause can do
Gums that have moved do not grow back on their own, and changing the cause does not undo what is there. What it usually does is stop more recession. That is worth a lot: slow recession that stops is often something a dentist simply watches. A dentist or periodontist decides whether anything else is needed.
Try it
Once you know the likely cause, the stage checker puts a number on how much is showing today, so you have something to compare in 3 months.
When to see a dentist
- Soon: gums that bleed on their own, pus or a bump on the gum, swelling, a loose tooth, pain, or a tooth that looks longer within weeks.
- In the next few weeks: frequent bleeding when you brush, red or puffy gums, breath that stays bad, yellow deposits along the gum line, or no cleaning in over a year. Those point to gum inflammation, the cause a dentist can most clearly treat.
- At your next checkup: everything else. Ask which cause your dentist thinks fits you.
New guides on each cause are on the way. Until then, see what to do next or every guide.
Sources
The list of causes follows the American Academy of Periodontology, the American Dental Association, Cleveland Clinic and the NHS. The note on grinding reflects periodontal reviews that describe its role in recession as uncertain. Quit-line details follow the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Questions
What is the most common cause of receding gums?
Gum disease and brushing too hard are the two most often named, and many people have both. Thin gums that run in families, teeth moved by braces, piercings and tobacco add to the risk. A dentist can tell you which fits your mouth.
Can brushing too hard cause receding gums?
Yes. Scrubbing side to side, a hard brush or heavy pressure wears the gum and can cut a notch into the tooth at the gum line. A soft brush held lightly, in small circles at the gum line, is the usual advice.
Can stress cause receding gums?
Not directly. Stress can lead to clenching or grinding, and to skipping cleanings, which may add to recession. If you wake with a sore jaw, ask your dentist whether grinding is part of it.
Will my gums stop receding if I change my brush?
If brushing was the main cause, gentler brushing usually stops it getting worse. It does not make gum grow back. Photos every month or two show whether the change is working, and a dentist can confirm.
Is this a diagnosis?
No. GumScout gives an AI estimate from photos. It is not a dental exam and cannot diagnose gum disease. This tool ranks likely causes from your answers; a dentist can confirm what is going on.