Gum recession describes gum tissue that has pulled back, showing more of the tooth underneath.

In kid words

"Gum recession just means the pink part around a tooth has moved back a little, so a bit more of the tooth shows than before." It does not mean your child did anything wrong. Your pediatric dentist checks your gums at every visit, right along with your teeth.

The parent version

Gum recession describes gum tissue gradually pulling back from the surface of a tooth it would normally cover, exposing more of the tooth, and sometimes part of the root, than usual. It is a term used across dentistry generally, though it is described as uncommon in children specifically compared to adults.

A number of different things get mentioned in mainstream sources as playing a role, and no two children's mouths are quite the same. This is not something to measure or track at home. If you ever notice a tooth looking longer than its neighbors, or more of it showing than you remember, mention it at a checkup and let your pediatric dentist take a look.

Where you might hear it at our office

Gums get the same close look as teeth at every routine cleaning and exam, so a change like this is generally caught by your pediatric dentist before a parent ever spots it at home. If you notice something between visits, it is still worth a mention rather than a wait.

More unfamiliar words from a visit are sorted out in the rest of the Kids' Dental Dictionary.

Related words

Words that often sit near gum recession: gum line, gingiva and enamel.