Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and the frustrating part is that it is often painless until it is advanced. The good news is that the early stage is completely reversible. Here is what to watch for.
Gingivitis is the early, mild stage where the gums are inflamed from plaque but the bone holding your teeth is still intact. It is reversible. Periodontitis is the advanced stage, where the infection has spread below the gum and started destroying the bone and fibres that anchor your teeth. That damage cannot be undone, only stabilised, which is why catching it early matters so much.
Look out for gums that bleed when you brush or floss, redness and puffiness, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulling away from the teeth, and in later stages teeth that feel loose or have shifted. Bleeding gums are not normal and are the earliest and most common sign, so do not ignore them.
Plaque that is not removed hardens into tartar, which harbours bacteria that inflame the gums. Smoking, diabetes, some medications, stress and genetics all raise the risk. Because tartar cannot be brushed off once it forms, professional cleaning is the only way to remove it.
Gingivitis usually clears with a professional scale and clean plus better home care. Periodontitis needs a deeper clean below the gum line, sometimes over several visits, and ongoing maintenance to keep it stable. In advanced cases we may work with a specialist. The earlier we start, the more teeth we save.
Brush twice a day, clean between your teeth daily, and keep up regular check-ups and cleans so tartar never gets the chance to build up. Prevention is far easier than treatment.
No. Bleeding gums are the earliest and most common sign of gum disease. Healthy gums do not bleed. If it continues for more than a week or two despite good brushing and flossing, have it checked.
The early stage, gingivitis, can be fully reversed with a professional clean and good home care. The advanced stage, periodontitis, cannot be reversed but can be stabilised to prevent further bone and tooth loss.
Often not until it is advanced, which is why it is so easily missed. It is usually painless in the early stages, so the visual signs like bleeding, redness and receding gums are what to watch for.
For most people every six months is right, but if you have or have had gum disease we may recommend every three to four months to keep it under control.