India, July 29 -- Kelly Ripa is taking a temporary break from Live with Kelly and Mark after undergoing a painful gum graft surgery, according to her husband and co-host Mark Consuelos.

During Monday's episode of the show, Consuelos explained to guest Kevin Jonas why Ripa was absent, revealing that she is recovering from the dental procedure and has been instructed not to speak.

"Kelly sends her love," Consuelos said. "Kelly had a little bit, well, it's not a little, she had a gum graft surgery." He added that Ripa's dentist had first recommended the procedure five years ago.

"Her dentist said five years ago, 'You can do it in about five years,'" Consuelos recalled. "And she joked, 'I didn't think I'd still be on the air in five years!...