Receding gum line on one tooth
Gum recession around one tooth can come from brushing trauma, gum disease, tooth position, or an injury and should be assessed if it progresses.
The short answer
A gum line that recedes around one tooth may result from forceful brushing, local gum inflammation, tooth position, clenching, or trauma, so the tooth and surrounding tissues should be examined. Recession can expose the root surface and cause sensitivity, but it does not reveal its cause by appearance alone.
What does recession around one tooth expose?
Gum recession means the gingival margin has moved toward the root, exposing more of the tooth below the enamel-covered crown. A dentist checks pocket depth, plaque, gum thickness, tooth position, bite forces, root exposure, and bone support to distinguish local injury from periodontal disease.
How can I protect a tooth with a receding gumline?
Use a soft brush with light pressure and clean around the tooth without scrubbing the gum edge. Reduce tobacco exposure, address a rough restoration or appliance, and use desensitising toothpaste if the exposed root is sensitive while arranging an examination.
When does gum recession need dental assessment?
Book a dental assessment if the recession is increasing, the tooth is loose, the gum bleeds, the root is painful, or there is swelling, pus, or persistent sensitivity. Prompt review matters when several teeth begin changing or when gum disease is suspected.
What could be contributing to recession around this tooth?
Ask how much recession and bone support are present, whether there is periodontal inflammation, and whether brushing technique, bite, tooth position, or a restoration is contributing. Ask about desensitising care, monitoring, gum treatment, or root coverage if exposed root remains troublesome.
Frequently asked questions
Can receded gum grow back by itself?
Gum tissue that has physically receded usually needs assessment rather than assuming it will return without treatment.
Can brushing cause recession?
Excessive force or an abrasive technique can injure the gum margin, especially when combined with a thin gum tissue or tooth position.
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Who wrote this page
This library is published by Dental Nation, a licensed dental group practising in the United Arab Emirates. Pages are written and overseen by the same clinical team that treats patients in our clinics, and are held to a fixed editorial standard for safety and accuracy.
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and cannot replace an examination. Anything urgent — facial swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or severe pain — needs a dentist or emergency care now.