Signs of gum disease
- bleeding when you brush, floss or eat something hard
- red, swollen or tender gums
- bad breath or a bad taste that keeps coming back
- gums pulling back so teeth look longer
- teeth that feel loose, or have started to move apart
- pus between the teeth and gums
Gum disease rarely hurts until it is advanced, so bleeding is often the only early warning.
The two stages
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gum only. The bone is untouched, and it clears up fully once the gums are kept clean.
Periodontitis (pyorrhea) is when the inflammation has spread to the bone that holds the teeth. Pockets form between gum and tooth, and bone is slowly lost. Treatment stops the damage, but bone that has gone doesn’t come back by itself, which is why it’s worth acting on bleeding gums early.
Smoking and chewing tobacco, diabetes, stress, some medicines and family history all make periodontitis more likely and harder to control. Smokers often bleed less, which hides the disease.
How we treat it
- Assessment. Our periodontist measures the pocket around each tooth, checks for movement and, if needed, takes X-rays to see the bone level. You get a clear picture of where things stand.
- Cleaning. For gingivitis, a scaling and polishing is usually enough. For periodontitis, deep cleaning (root planing) under local anaesthetic cleans the root surfaces inside the pockets.
- Home care that works. We show you how to brush along the gum line and which interdental brushes fit your gaps. This matters as much as anything we do in the chair.
- Review. After six to eight weeks we measure again. Most pockets shrink. Any that don’t may need further cleaning or a surgical approach.
- Maintenance. People who have had periodontitis do best with a clean every three to four months.
If you have diabetes, keeping your gums healthy also helps your blood sugar control, and the other way round.
When surgery is needed
Deep pockets that don’t respond to cleaning, and some cases of receding gums, are treated with gum surgery, carried out at the clinic by our periodontist:
- Flap surgery to reach and clean deep pockets and reshape the bone around them.
- Gum grafts to cover exposed roots and reduce sensitivity where gums have receded.
- Crown lengthening to expose more tooth before a crown, or to correct a gummy smile with our cosmetic dentist (gum contouring).
We explain exactly what your surgery involves, how long healing takes and the fee before you decide.
What affects the fee
How many areas need deep cleaning, how many visits that takes, whether X-rays are needed, and how often you’ll need maintenance cleans afterwards. We give you the plan and the fee after the gum assessment.
What happens if it isn’t treated
Advanced gum disease is one of the main reasons adults lose teeth. Loose teeth can drift, gaps open, chewing becomes difficult and, eventually, teeth may need to be removed and replaced with bridges, dentures or implants. Treating the gums early is far simpler.
Questions patients ask us
Why do my gums bleed when I brush?
Almost always because plaque has been left along the gum line long enough to inflame it (gingivitis). Hard brushing alone rarely causes it. Less often, bleeding gums are linked to medicines such as blood thinners, pregnancy, vitamin deficiency or blood disorders. If cleaning doesn't settle it within two weeks, we'll look further.
Should I stop brushing if my gums bleed?
No. Keep brushing gently with a soft brush, and clean between the teeth. Stopping lets more plaque build up and makes the bleeding worse. Bleeding usually reduces within a week or two once the gums are clean.
What is pyorrhea?
Pyorrhea is the older name, still common in India, for advanced gum disease (periodontitis). The gum and bone holding the teeth are destroyed slowly, so teeth become loose, gums recede and there may be pus. It's treated, not cured, and needs ongoing care to keep it stable.
Can receding gums grow back?
Gum that has receded doesn't grow back on its own. Treatment stops it getting worse, and sensitivity on exposed roots can be managed. Our periodontist can often cover exposed roots with a gum graft and will tell you whether that suits your gums.
Do you have a gum specialist?
Yes. Our periodontist specialises in the gums and the bone that holds the teeth, and treats gum disease, receding gums, loose teeth and problems around implants at the clinic.
Can loose teeth from gum disease be saved?
Often, yes, if enough bone remains. Deep cleaning, sometimes followed by gum surgery and splinting loose teeth together, can keep them for years. The X-rays and pocket measurements show which teeth can be kept.
Can gum disease be treated at home?
Home care is half the treatment, but it can't remove tartar or clean deep pockets. Brushing twice a day, cleaning between teeth daily and stopping tobacco make a big difference. Home remedies such as salt water can soothe the gums but don't treat the disease.
Do I need antibiotics for gum disease?
Usually not. The main treatment is removing the plaque and tartar. Antibiotics are sometimes used alongside cleaning for severe or aggressive gum disease or an acute gum abscess, but on their own they don't fix the problem.
Are swollen gums during pregnancy normal?
Pregnancy hormones make gums react more strongly to plaque, so bleeding and swelling are common. It's safe and sensible to have a cleaning during pregnancy, ideally in the second trimester. Let us know you're pregnant when you book.
Sources
NHS: gum disease ↗ADA MouthHealthy: gum disease ↗ADA MouthHealthy: scaling and root planing ↗Last updated 14 October 2026. This page explains options in general terms; your own plan comes from an examination.