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HealthlineSubscribeThe Truth About Receding Gums

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Archibald, DDS — Written by Donna Christiano — Updated on December 23, 2024

Natural remedies
What you can do
Takeaway

Receding gums are gums that have pulled away from a tooth, leaving its delicate root exposed. This also creates small spaces where plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, can collect.

This can lead to more recession. Left untreated, it can eventually cause bone and tooth loss.

Many things can cause receding gums, including poor dental hygiene, brushing too hard, and aging.

Can receding gums grow back?

Your gum tissue doesn’t regenerate the way other types of tissue does (like the epithelial tissue of your skin, for example). As a result, receding gums don’t grow back.

Keep reading to learn what you can do to treat receding gums, even if they won’t grow back.

What about natural remedies?

Many people claim that several natural remedies can treat receding gums. Some of the most popular ones include:

oil pulling
drinking green tea
using aloe vera

Each of these remedies can help to improve your oral health. A 2020 review of studies found that swishing coconut oil around in the mouth seemed to help reduce plaque and gum inflammation. More research is needed to confirm these benefits.

A 2021 meta-analysis also highlighted the potential benefits of green tea for fighting common bacterial causes of gum inflammation, though the researchers found the evidence to be insufficient.

A 2024 study concluded that applying aloe vera gel just under the gums along with scaling and planing was more effective at reducing bacteria and inflammation than in a control group who only had scaling and planing done. Further research is warranted on this promising treatment.

While all this research suggests that these natural remedies may be beneficial to your oral health, none of them demonstrated any ability to make gum tissue grow back. There’s no treatment — natural or medical — that can make receding gums grow back.

What can you do about receding gums?

Even though receding gums won’t grow back, there are still several things you can do to prevent them from receding more. There are also some procedures that can reduce the appearance of receding gums.

Prevention

Start by making an appointment with your dentist. They’ll measure how far your gums have receded to determine the most effective next steps. If you have bacteria in the small spaces created by receding gums, they’ll likely start with a deep cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing.

Scaling and root planing involves scraping away tartar from your teeth and under your gum line. It’s done with either a hand-held scraper or an ultrasonic device that uses vibrations to loosen and remove plaque.

In some cases, your dentist might apply a slow-release antibacterial gel under your gum line or prescribe an antibiotic mouthwash.

This is often the first step in treating receding gums, since removing bacteria can slow down and sometimes even halt the process. To maintain the results, you’ll need to follow up with good oral hygiene to avoid future buildups of plaque.

This involves:

gently brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled brush
flossing in between your teeth daily before brushing
going in for regular dental cleanings every six months

Treatment

The appropriate treatment for receding gums depends on the cause of the condition. For more severe cases, your dentist might suggest surgery to remove bacteria that’s deep under your gums or to replace missing gum tissue.

Common treatments include:

Laser treatment. Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure® (LANAP®) has been shown to be an effective, non-invasive treatment for periodonditis.
Flap surgery. Your dentist will make a small incision in your gum tissue to lift it up and remove any plaque they couldn’t get to during the scaling and root planing procedure. After they’ve removed the bacteria, they’ll secure your gum tissue in place. This can prevent eventual bone loss.
Tunnel technique. A less invasive alternative in which a small tunnel is drilled to reach the infected gum material and remove the bacteria while preserving the visible gum line.
Gum graft. An oral surgeon will take gum tissue from another part of your mouth and surgically place it around the receding area. This can both reduce the appearance of receding gums and protect your tooth and bone from future damage.
Bonding. Gum-colored resin can be placed over the roots of your affected teeth. This both reduces the appearance of receding gums and protects the sensitive roots of your teeth.

Speak with your dentist to determine what is the best treatment option for you.

The bottom line

Receding gums are a common condition. Even with good oral hygiene habits, aging and genetics can still cause gum loss.

While your gum tissue can’t grow back, there are many treatment options that can help stop or slow down the process.

Work with your dentist to figure out the most effective treatment option based on your general oral health and the amount of recession you have.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Huamán-Mendoza AA, et al. (2023). Current state about root coverage using soft-tissue substitutes in the presence of noncarious cervical lesions: A literature review.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10431232/
Kataria C, et al. (2024). Efficacy of locally delivered aloe vera hydrogel in patients with chronic periodontitis: A prospective clinical study.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11129542/
Mazur M, et al. (2021). Impact of green tea (Camellia Sinensis) on periodontitis and caries. Systematic review and meta-analysis.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7946350/
Non-surgical treatments. (n.d.).https://www.perio.org/for-patients/periodontal-treatments-and-procedures/non-surgical-treatments/
Periodontal (gum) disease. (2024).https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/gum-disease
Shkreta M, et al. (2018). Exploring the gingival recession surgical treatment modalities: A literature review.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5927507/
Smoking, gum disease, and tooth loss. (2023).https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/periodontal-gum-disease.html
Surgical procedures. (n.d.).https://www.perio.org/for-patients/periodontal-treatments-and-procedures/surgical-procedures/
Tavelli L, et al. (2018). Efficacy of tunnel technique in the treatment of localized and multiple gingival recessions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/145520/jper10154.pdf
Woolley J, et al. (2020). The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7475120/
Yukna RA. (2022). Clinical evaluation of Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure® (LANAP®) surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis: a retrospective case series of 1-year results in 22 consecutive patients.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10315259/
Zhan Y, et al. (2022). Effectiveness of acellular dermal matrix graft with a coronally advanced flap for the treatment of Miller Class I/II single gingival recession with thin gingival phenotype: study protocol for a split-mouth randomised controlled trial.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8796220/

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Medically reviewed by Jennifer Archibald, DDS — Written by Donna Christiano — Updated on December 23, 2024

Do Receding Gums Grow Back? What About Oil Pulling ... - Healthline

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