When it comes to oral hygiene, Kelly Ripa is an overachiever. But as it turns out, that's not a good thing.
The daytime talk-show host, who recently underwent gum graft surgery, opened up about the health habit that led to the dental procedure in a prerecorded episode of her podcast, "Let's Talk Off Camera," released Wednesday, Aug. 12.
Ripa has been absent from her morning talk show, "Live with Kelly and Mark," since late July as she recovers from the surgery, which is used to treat gum recession, a "condition where your gums pull away from your teeth and expose the roots underneath," according to the Cleveland Clinic. The procedure involves replacing the "lost tissue" around the teeth, and recovery typically takes one to two weeks.
During a conversation
with comedian and actress Michelle Buteau on the podcast, Ripa revealed that she had to have the surgery because of her frequent teeth-brushing.
"I'm an over-brusher. I brush my teeth too much. It's a good-bad habit," Ripa, 55, said. "But I've caused gum recession down here specifically, and so they have got to re-gum my gums."
While Buteau gave Ripa credit for addressing the dental issue head-on, the Emmy-winning host confessed that the surgery was long overdue.
"Before you praise me, I was supposed to do it five years ago," Ripa said, adding that her doctor later stressed to her that she no longer had "the luxury of time."
Ripa's husband and "Live" cohost, Mark Consuelos, shared an update on Ripa's recovery during a July 27 appearance on the show. Post-surgery, Ripa was "doing great," Consuelos said at the time, but per her doctor's orders, "she's not allowed to talk."
"She's such a great conversationalist," Consuelos added. "But I'm trying to keep her [compliant]. 'Follow the rules, follow the directions.'"
When will Kelly Ripa return to talk show?
Amid Ripa's surgery recovery, a series of guest hosts − including Kevin Jonas, Mila Kunis and "The Rookie" star Jenna Dewan – stepped in for the TV host through Aug. 7.
"Live with Kelly and Mark" is currently on its annual summer break. For the remainder of August, viewers will see new, prerecorded segments with Ripa and Consuelos combined with previous celebrity interviews.
Ripa will fully return to the live broadcast on Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day.
Contributing: Erin Jensen, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kelly Ripa reveals surprising 'bad habit' that led to gum surgery
