Gum recession: Prevalence and risk factors in the general population Original paper
In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 observational studies in 37,263 participants, gingival recession affected 81.1% of the general population, and men were at greater risk.
This Study Summary was published on March 27, 2025.
The study
Gum recession is a condition in which the gums pull away from the teeth, which potentially exposes the tooth roots. The prevalence of gingival recession varied by severity:
- 81.1% for gum recession of at least 1 millimeter
- 48.4% for gum recession of at least 3 millimeters
- 16.2% for gum recession of at least 5 millimeters
Geographic location notably affected prevalence. For example, South America had higher rates than Europe for gum recession of at least 1 millimeter.
Several factors were associated with an increased risk of gum recession:
- Male sex (1.52 times greater odds)
- Smoking (1.84 times greater odds)
- Alcohol consumption (2.04 times greater odds)
- Dental plaque buildup (4.26 times greater odds)
- Gum disease (9.90 times greater odds)
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The results
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This Study Summary was published on March 27, 2025.