Kelly Ripa Returns to Live After Gum Graft Surgery

Kelly Ripa recently underwent gum graft surgery to treat gum recession caused by what she described as a "good bad habit" of overbrushing her teeth. The procedure, which required a recovery period where she was unable to speak for 10 days, led to her absence from the talk show "Live with Kelly and Mark" beginning in late July.

Ripa, 55, discussed the dental work in a pre-recorded episode of her "Let's Talk Off Camera" podcast, recorded before the surgery. She explained that her dentist had first recommended the procedure about five years ago, but she delayed it. Eventually, her doctor told her she no longer had the luxury of time, prompting her to proceed. "I'm an overbrusher. I brush my teeth too much. It's a good bad habit," Ripa said, noting that aggressive brushing contributed to gum recession in a specific area of her mouth.

The gum graft procedure is a common periodontal surgery used to treat thinning gums or recession. It typically involves taking tissue from the roof of the patient's mouth and placing it over the affected gum area to cover exposed tooth roots and protect oral health. Following the surgery, patients are given strict recovery instructions, which in Ripa's...