If you’ve noticed that your dog’s teeth appear longer than they used to, or that the pink gum tissue seems to have pulled back from the base of the teeth, you’re likely seeing gum recession — also called gingival recession. It’s a sign that something is wrong, and while it’s not always painful in its early stages, untreated recession leads to exposed tooth roots, increased sensitivity, and eventually tooth loss.
What Is Gum Recession in Dogs?
Gum recession occurs when the gingival tissue (the gum) pulls back from the tooth, exposing the root surface below the cementoenamel junction — the line where the crown of the tooth meets the root. Normally, this junction sits just at or slightly below the gumline, keeping the root protected.
When the gum recedes, the root surface is exposed. Root surfaces are covered by cementum — a softer, more porous material than enamel that has no protective enamel coating. Exposed roots are more susceptible to decay, temperature sensitivity, and further bacterial colonization. In severe recession, the bone supporting the tooth also erodes, leading to tooth mobility and loss.
Causes of Dog Gum Recession
Periodontal Disease (Most Common)
By far the most common cause of gum recession in dogs is periodontal disease. As plaque accumulates along the gumline and below it, the body’s immune response to the bacterial infection causes inflammation and ultimately destruction of the gum and bone tissue that anchor the tooth. This destructive process is what drives the gum down and back from the tooth.
Recession caused by periodontal disease is accompanied by other signs: red or swollen gums, tartar visible at the gumline, bad breath, and sometimes bleeding when the gum tissue is touched. The recession may be uneven — more severe where tartar accumulation is heaviest, which is often the outer surface of the upper back teeth.
Brushing Too Aggressively
Less common in dogs than in humans (because most dogs don’t get enough brushing, let alone too much), but worth noting: if you use a hard-bristled brush or scrub with excessive force, the mechanical trauma can cause gum recession in the areas repeatedly abraded. Use a soft-bristled brush and gentle circular or back-and-forth motions — firm enough to disrupt plaque, not hard enough to abrade the gum tissue.
Anatomical Factors
Some dogs have naturally thin gum tissue, particularly in areas where teeth are crowded or positioned close to the outer edge of the jaw bone. These areas have minimal attached gingiva (the firm gum tissue bonded to the underlying bone) and are more prone to recession even with normal levels of dental care. This is especially common in small breeds and brachycephalic breeds with crowded teeth.
Tooth Fractures and Root Damage
A fractured tooth that has allowed bacteria to enter the pulp can develop infection at the root tip, which eventually undermines the surrounding bone and gum. Localized recession around a single tooth, particularly a premolar, is often a sign of a root abscess — see our guide to dog tooth abscesses if you suspect this.
Malocclusion and Tooth-on-Tissue Trauma
In dogs with significant underbites, overbites, or crowded teeth, some teeth may contact the gum on the opposite jaw or on adjacent tissue with every bite. This repeated trauma gradually wears away the contacted tissue, creating recession at the trauma site. This is most commonly seen in dogs with teeth erupting in abnormal positions.
Do Dog Gums Grow Back?
No — once gum tissue is lost, it does not regenerate on its own. This is one of the most important and frequently misunderstood facts about gum recession in both dogs and humans. The gum tissue that has receded away from the tooth does not regrow spontaneously, even after the underlying disease is treated.
What treatment can do:
- Stop further recession — treating the cause (periodontal disease) prevents the recession from progressing
- Regenerative surgery — in select cases, veterinary dental specialists can perform periodontal surgery to graft tissue over exposed roots. This is more commonly done in human dentistry but is available through veterinary dental specialists. Outcomes depend on the location, extent of bone loss, and the dog’s overall periodontal health.
The practical message: treat the underlying cause as early as possible, because the tissue that is lost cannot be passively recovered.
How Vets Diagnose and Grade Gum Recession
Gum recession is assessed during a professional dental examination under anesthesia using a periodontal probe — a millimeter-marked instrument that measures the depth of the pocket between the gum and tooth, and the extent of exposed root surface.
Veterinary dental scoring uses the Miller classification (adapted from human dentistry) to grade recession by severity:
- Class I: Recession within the attached gingiva; no bone loss. Most amenable to surgical correction.
- Class II: Recession extends to the mucogingival junction; no bone loss. Can be surgically corrected.
- Class III: Recession extends beyond the mucogingival junction with some bone loss. Partial correction possible.
- Class IV: Severe recession with significant bone loss and tooth mobility. Extraction is often the appropriate treatment.
Treatment for Gum Recession in Dogs
Treatment depends on the cause and severity:
Professional dental cleaning: For recession caused by periodontal disease, the foundation of treatment is professional scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) under anesthesia. This removes the plaque and tartar driving the inflammation and gives the gum tissue the best environment to stabilize — even though it won’t regrow the lost tissue.
Extraction: For teeth with severe recession (Class III–IV), significant bone loss, or fracture-associated infection, extraction is often the best outcome. Dogs adapt quickly to missing teeth and the removal of a painful, diseased tooth substantially improves their quality of life.
Periodontal surgery: For Class I–II recession with no bone loss, a veterinary dental specialist may perform gingival grafting to cover exposed roots. This requires referral to a specialist and is reserved for cases where the tooth is important to retain and the recession is surgically correctable.
Post-treatment home care: After professional treatment, consistent daily brushing and appropriate home care is essential to prevent further progression. Teeth with recession are more vulnerable — keeping them clean is the single most important thing you can do.
How to Prevent Gum Recession in Dogs
Because periodontal disease is the primary cause, prevention focuses on plaque control:
- Daily brushing — especially along the gumline, where plaque causes the most damage
- Annual professional cleanings (every 6 months for high-risk breeds)
- Early treatment of gingivitis — addressing inflammation before it progresses to bone and tissue loss
- Avoid hard chewing objects that fracture teeth and set up root infections
- Regular home inspection — lifting the lip monthly to check for any changes in gum level or new areas of recession
See: How to Prevent Gum Disease in Dogs and Dog Swollen Gums: Causes, Treatment & When to Worry.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Gum Recession
Do dog gums grow back after recession?
No. Once gum tissue has receded, it does not regenerate spontaneously. Treatment can stop further progression and, in select cases, a veterinary dental specialist can graft tissue to cover exposed roots — but this is not self-healing. This is why early intervention, before recession becomes severe, is so important.
What does gum recession look like in dogs?
Gum recession appears as the teeth looking “longer than normal” — the pink gum tissue has pulled back from the base of the tooth, exposing the darker, more yellowish root surface below. You may also see a visible line where the crown meets the root, red or inflamed gum tissue at the recession margin, or an asymmetry where one side of the mouth shows more exposure than the other.
Is gum recession painful for dogs?
Early recession may not be painful, which is why many dogs show no obvious signs despite significant disease. As recession progresses and roots become exposed, temperature sensitivity and pressure sensitivity can occur — leading to reluctance to chew, dropping food, or behavioral changes. Advanced recession with bone loss and tooth mobility is associated with chronic pain that significantly affects quality of life.
Can I treat my dog’s gum recession at home?
No home treatment can reverse existing recession. However, home care is essential to prevent it from progressing and to maintain the mouth after professional treatment. Daily brushing with a soft-bristled brush, using gentle technique at the gumline, is the most important home intervention. Avoid hard chewing objects and schedule annual professional cleanings.
My dog’s gums look black — is that recession?
Black or dark pigmentation in dog gums is normal in many breeds — it’s melanin pigmentation, the same pigment responsible for skin color. Some dogs (especially those with darker coats) have heavily pigmented gums that appear black or dark brown, and this is completely normal. Gum recession involves a change in tissue level (pulling back from the tooth) rather than color change, though discoloration can accompany disease in some cases. If unsure, a vet examination will clarify.