Healthy gum tissue is pink and soft and plays a huge role in keeping teeth where they belong -- rooted in the mouth. It's a wonder that such a sensitive and pliable tissue can hold our hard teeth in place, but it is less wonderful that once gum tissue loses its firm grip around our pearly whites, it can become flaccid and shrink back -- often for good. Surgery is one option for repairing damaged gums, but how does it work and how much does it hurt?