Kelly Ripa reveals relatable reason behind surgery delay

Kelly Ripa delayed undergoing gum surgery for five years.

The 55-year-old TV star has returned to hosting Live with Mark Consuelos, her husband, after recently undergoing gum surgery, and Kelly has now opened up about her health issues.

Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, Kelly shared, "[I’m] so much better.”

"It was fine. It was definitely necessary. I delayed it for five years. I really did because I was like, ‘I’ll wait until I retire.’ And then, eventually my dentist was like, ‘Okay, now we have to finish it,’" she recalled.

Kelly took time off work during her recovery from surgery, and admits that it was "a little strange" to have stitches in her mouth.

She said, "I was talking the whole time. I was talking like crazy. [Mark] was like, ‘You’re not supposed to be talking.’ I’m like, ‘I’m fine!’ It did look weird, though, when I talked.”

"What was funny, a few of my producers said, ‘You just need to take the cotton out, take the cotton out from under your lower lip.’ And I was like, ‘There is no cotton. That is just swelling. That’s why I’m not at work today,’" Kelly added.

The TV personality’s gum issues were caused by "over brushing" and "over flossing" but now, Kelly has recovered as she explained, "I’m getting better. I’m retraining myself.”

"I host a morning show. I know when there’s bad dental hygiene involved. It’s a good-bad habit, or a bad-good habit,” she mentioned.

Meanwhile, Mark also spoke about Kelly's surgery during her absence from the show.

The TV star explained on Live, "There’s a list of things you are not allowed to do. [No] talking, she has to eat soft food, can’t suck out of a straw. You can’t examine it, which means pulling down the lip.”

"Last night, she was like, ‘Can you look?’ And I’m like, ‘I’m not pulling your lip down.'"

Gum graft surgery treats thinning gums or gum recession, and reduces the risk of severe gum disease.

"Her dentist said five years ago, ‘You could do it in about five years.’ And she said, ‘I didn’t know I would still be on the air in five years'. But the one thing about it — she is doing well, doing great — she is not allowed to talk,” Mark elaborated as he spoke of Kelly Ripa’s surgery at that time.