Gum recession is the gum margin moving down the tooth, so that part of the root, which was designed to be covered, becomes exposed to the mouth. Root surface is softer than enamel, more prone to decay and wear, and often sensitive to cold, sweet and touch. The teeth look longer, and where recession is uneven the gum line becomes noticeably irregular in a smile. People usually blame brushing too hard, and that is one genuine cause, but recession has several others and it is worth knowing which applies to you because the answer determines what to do. Recession from gum disease means the bone beneath has gone and the priority is controlling the infection. Recession from scrubbing on thin gum can sometimes be covered with a graft once the habit is changed. Recession beside a tooth that sits outside the arch reflects the position of the root rather than anything you did. Gum that has receded does not grow back by itself, but progression can almost always be halted, and our Wimpole Street team will tell you plainly whether coverage is realistic in your case.
Teeth that look longer than they used to
Root that was covered is now visible, often a darker yellow than the enamel above it.
A notch or step at the gum line
The junction between enamel and root can be felt with a fingernail.
Sharp sensitivity to cold, sweet or brushing
Exposed root has no enamel covering the nerve endings in the dentine.
Dark triangles opening between teeth
The gum between the teeth has shrunk as well as the gum in front.
An uneven gum line across the front teeth
Recession rarely affects every tooth equally.
Wedge-shaped grooves worn into the root surface
Abrasion from a hard brush or toothpaste on soft root dentine.
When gum disease destroys the bone supporting a tooth, the gum follows it down. Recession of this kind is usually generalised, accompanied by pockets and bleeding, and the underlying disease must be treated before anything else is considered.
A stiff brush, a scrubbing action and abrasive whitening toothpastes wear the gum away, particularly on the canines and premolars where the arch curves and the brush bears down. The gum here is often thin to begin with.
Some people inherit a thin, delicate gum type with little bone over the roots. This tissue recedes readily in response to minor trauma or inflammation, and is more likely to need grafting to thicken it.
A tooth that sits outside the arch, or was moved forward during orthodontics beyond the bony envelope, has root partly outside the bone. The gum over that root is unsupported and tends to recede.
Excessive load on a tooth is associated with recession and with the wedge-shaped defects at the gum line, though the exact mechanism is debated. Clenchers frequently show both.
A lip or tongue stud rubbing on the gum, aggressive flossing that cuts into the papilla, or a high muscle attachment tugging on the margin can each produce localised recession at one site.
These are holding measures, not a substitute for an examination. Use any pain relief exactly as directed on the pack and check with a pharmacist if you take other medicines.
We measure the recession at each site, check for pockets and bleeding, assess gum thickness, tooth position and bite forces, and look at your brush and technique. Only then can we say what will and will not help.
About this treatmentWhere pockets and bone loss are present, non-surgical periodontal treatment comes first. Recession from disease is not grafted until the disease is stable, and often is not grafted at all.
About this treatmentFluoride varnish and bonding agents seal exposed dentine, and root-surface decay or abrasion notches are restored with tooth-coloured filling material.
About this treatmentFor recession on thin gum with the bone between teeth intact, a connective tissue graft from the palate or a substitute material can thicken the gum and cover much of the exposed root. Predictable in the right case, unhelpful in the wrong one.
About this treatmentWhere clenching or grinding is contributing, a custom splint reduces the load on the affected teeth and may slow further loss.
About this treatmentWhere grafting is not possible, pink composite or a well-designed restoration can disguise dark triangles and long teeth in a visible smile.
About this treatmentAn examination at Wimpole Street to assess recession, including gum charting, is expected to be £95. Fluoride or desensitising treatment is quoted at the visit. Restoring an abrasion notch or root decay with composite is from £185 per tooth.
Where periodontitis is the cause, a treatment course is indicative from £850 followed by maintenance from £89. Gum grafting is quoted per site after assessment, since the technique and the number of teeth involved vary considerably. A night guard is £795. We are candid about which sites can realistically be covered, so that money is not spent on grafts unlikely to hold.
Figures are indicative prices for Wimpole Street and are confirmed in a written plan once a dentist has examined you. Fees match our South Kensington and St Paul's clinics.
Leave your details and we will be in touch when the Marylebone diary opens. If the problem cannot wait, the same clinicians are already seeing patients in South Kensington and at St Paul's.
Related conditions
Opening 1 October 2026
Wimpole Street is not yet seeing patients. Until then, please book or call our South Kensington clinic on 020 7183 2362 or our St Paul's clinic on 020 7183 3709. Questions about the new clinic: wimpolestreet@md.co.uk.
The same clinical team already works from two other Medical & Dental clinics. Book at either one now and, if you prefer, move your ongoing care to Wimpole Street once the doors open.
