Kelly Ripa has revealed that a longstanding habit of over-brushing her teeth caused severe gum recession, leading to a graft surgery that temporarily left the famously talkative daytime television host unable to speak for ten days.
“I’m an over-brusher. I brush my teeth too much,” Ripa told podcast guest Michelle Buteau on an episode of “Let’s Talk Off Camera,” recorded before her procedure. “It’s a good bad habit. But I’ve caused gum recession down here specifically, and so they have gotta re-gum my gums.”
Kelly Ripa Dental Procedure: What Exactly Does The Gum Surgery Involve?
Ripa described the procedure in blunt detail, explaining why she would be temporarily silenced during her recovery. “They take the skin off of the roof of your mouth, and they put it over your gums,” she said, adding that the process would leave her “not allowed to talk for 10 days.”
Kelly Ripa Dental Procedure: Why Had Ripa Delayed The Surgery For So Long?
Although Buteau praised Ripa for prioritising her health, the host was quick to clarify that the procedure was long overdue rather than proactive. “Before you praise me, I was supposed to do it five years ago,” Ripa said. “But, now, just so you know, the doctor was like, ‘Now, you don’t have the luxury of time!'”
Kelly Ripa Dental Procedure: How Did The Surgery Affect Ripa’s Work Schedule?
The procedure forced Ripa to miss nearly two weeks of hosting duties on “Live with Kelly and Mark” as the season wound down toward its scheduled summer break, with episodes airing during her absence having been filmed beforehand. Her husband and co-host, Mark Consuelos, later discussed her recovery on air with musician Nick Jonas, joking about how difficult the enforced silence had been for his notoriously chatty wife. “Wow. That’s got to be the hardest thing she’s ever done,” Jonas said, to which Consuelos, describing Ripa as “such a great conversationalist,” admitted, “I’m trying to keep her to follow the rules, follow the directions.”
Kelly Ripa Dental Procedure: What Was The Hardest Part Of Ripa’s Recovery At Home?
Consuelos later revealed that managing the pain was not the biggest challenge during Ripa’s recovery, but rather curbing her curiosity about how the healing was progressing. “Last night she was like, ‘Can you look?’ I’m like, ‘I’m not pulling your lip down,'” Consuelos recalled, describing how Ripa instead positioned herself so he could check without touching her lip. “So I’m down there like, ‘It looks great!'” He added that the ordeal stood out because Ripa rarely complains about pain, making her discomfort during recovery especially noticeable.
Kelly Ripa Dental Procedure: Could This Happen To Other People Who Brush Regularly?
According to the American Dental Association, scrubbing too vigorously, brushing more often than the recommended twice daily, or using hard-bristled toothbrushes can permanently wear away delicate gum tissue and enamel over time. While Ripa’s own case stemmed specifically from over-brushing, dental experts note that gum recession can affect anyone, whether triggered by aggressive brushing, plaque buildup or genetic predisposition, underscoring why dentists routinely recommend gentler brushing techniques and softer-bristled toothbrushes as a preventative measure.
