Gum recession is one of the most common concerns we see in patients aged forty and above. Once the gum has moved, it doesn’t grow back on its own.
What you can do, though, is stop it progressing further, treat the sensitivity it often causes, and in some cases surgically replace the lost tissue. Our gum disease treatment begins with working out which type of recession you have and why it’s happening, because the cause shapes everything else. Not all recession is gum disease. That’s an important distinction.
What Receding Gums Actually Are
The visible part of the tooth is the crown, covered in enamel. The part beneath the gumline is the root, covered in a thinner, softer material called cementum. When the gum margin moves apically, that’s recession, and the root surface becomes exposed.
You’ll typically notice it as one of three things: teeth that look longer than they used to, sharp sensitivity to cold drinks or air, or a small ridge or step you can feel with your fingernail at the gumline. Sometimes all three at once.
Sensitivity is usually the first complaint.
The Real Causes (and Some Misconceptions)
The textbook splits recession into two broad categories: that caused by periodontal disease, where bone loss has occurred, and that caused by mechanical or anatomical factors, where the bone underneath may be largely intact. Most patients have a mixture.
Common causes we see in clinic:
- Aggressive horizontal toothbrushing, often with a hard or medium brush
- Long-term periodontitis, treated or untreated
- Thin biotype gum tissue (genetic, often runs in families)
- Tooth position; teeth that sit prominently in the arch are at higher risk
- Orthodontic movement, particularly when teeth are pushed beyond the bone envelope
- Habitual grinding or clenching, which fatigues the cervical area of the tooth
- Lip and tongue piercings rubbing on the gum margin
- Smoking, which reduces blood flow to the gum tissue
Brushing too hard is the most preventable cause. We’d estimate it accounts for roughly four in ten of the cases we see in otherwise healthy mouths.
To put it precisely, it’s not the brushing itself. It’s the combination of horizontal scrubbing motion, a stiff brush, and abrasive toothpaste. Each of those is correctable.
How We Assess Gum Recession
A proper assessment includes measuring the recession itself in millimetres, charting periodontal pocket depths around each tooth, looking at the thickness of the remaining gum tissue, and reviewing how you brush. We sometimes use the Cairo classification, which groups recession into types one through three based on the level of bone loss between adjacent teeth. The classification matters because it predicts how much tissue can realistically be regained with surgery.
You can find more on the clinical background through the Wikipedia entry on gingival recession, which is reasonably current.
Treatment Options, From Simple to Surgical
| Treatment | Best for | What it involves | Typical private cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brushing technique correction | Mechanically caused recession not yet progressed far | Switch to soft brush, modified Bass technique, low-abrasion paste | Included in routine appointments |
| Desensitising treatment | Symptom control where surgery isn’t appropriate | In-clinic application of fluoride varnish or specialist desensitisers; sensitive toothpaste at home | £40 to £90 per session |
| Periodontal therapy | Recession secondary to gum disease | Root surface debridement; may halt further loss | £200 to £500 per quadrant |
| Composite gum-coloured filling | Cervical wear with sensitivity, single tooth | Direct bonding to seal exposed root surface | £150 to £300 per tooth |
| Connective tissue graft | Cosmetic concern or progressive recession on a healthy tooth | Surgical procedure taking tissue from palate or using donor matrix; specialist referral usually required | £800 to £1,800 per tooth |
Surgical grafting works best where there’s still bone between the teeth. Where bone has been lost across several teeth in a row, the predictability drops considerably, and we’ll usually advise stabilisation rather than reconstruction.
What You Can Do at Home, Realistically
Several practical steps make a measurable difference within a few months:
First, change your brush. A genuinely soft brush, replaced every two to three months. The bristles should bend visibly when you press them against the back of your hand. If they don’t, they’re too firm.
Second, change the motion. Small circles or short vertical strokes from gum to tooth, never horizontal scrubbing. An electric brush takes the technique decision out of your hands, which is often easier.
Third, use a low-abrasion toothpaste. Most sensitive toothpastes are also low-abrasion; the RDA value (relative dentin abrasivity) is what to look for, though it’s rarely on the packaging. Sensodyne ProNamel and Colgate Sensitive ProRelief sit in the lower range.
Fourth, address grinding if it’s present. A simple night guard from your dentist costs less than people expect and protects against further cervical wear.
When to Get Seen
If you’ve noticed recession on a single tooth or in one area, it’s worth getting it assessed before deciding whether to treat or simply monitor. If sensitivity is interfering with how you eat or drink, that’s enough reason on its own to come in. If multiple teeth are affected and you have a family history of gum issues, please don’t wait.
For patients across Southend-on-Sea, Westcliff, Leigh, Shoebury and the surrounding areas, our team at Westcliff Dental Practice offers detailed gum assessments and a tailored plan based on what we find. We’re happy to talk through options before committing to any treatment, and we’ll be straight about what’s likely to help and what isn’t. You can reach us on 01702 344 500.
