What Are Gingival (Gum) Grafts?

A gum graft adds tissue back to areas where the gumline has receded — sometimes to protect an exposed tooth root, sometimes purely for comfort, and sometimes for appearance when recession has made a smile look uneven.

Why gums recede

• Aggressive brushing over many years, using too much pressure or a hard-bristled brush

• Periodontal disease, which erodes both gum tissue and underlying bone

• Genetics — thinner gum tissue is simply more prone to recession in some people

• Teeth grinding or clenching, and a misaligned bite that puts uneven pressure on certain teeth

• Piercings or other repeated friction against the gum tissue

Why it matters beyond appearance

Receded gums expose the tooth root, which isn't protected by hard enamel the way the crown of the tooth is. This exposure can lead to noticeable sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods, a meaningfully higher risk of decay right at the root surface, and in more advanced cases, accelerated bone loss around the affected tooth.

Types of grafts

• Connective tissue grafts, using tissue taken from beneath the surface of the palate — the most common approach

• Free gingival grafts, using a thin layer of tissue directly from the palate's surface

• Pedicle grafts, using nearby gum tissue that remains partially attached during the procedure

How the procedure works

Tissue — either from another part of your mouth or from a processed donor source — is placed over the exposed root and secured with sutures to encourage new tissue growth and reattachment.

Recovery

• Soft foods for about a week, avoiding anything that requires significant chewing near the graft site

• Avoid brushing directly over the graft site until your dentist clears you to resume

• Mild swelling and tenderness are normal for the first few days and improve steadily

• Most patients see the area fully settle and heal within two to four weeks

If you've noticed a tooth looking "longer" than it used to, or new sensitivity near the gumline that wasn't there before, that's worth having evaluated sooner rather than later.