Gingivitis and periodontitis
The early stage is gingivitis: gums that are red, puffy and bleed when brushed. It is caused by plaque sitting along the gum line, and at this stage it is fully reversible with a professional clean and better daily cleaning.
Left untreated it can progress to periodontitis, where the inflammation reaches the bone supporting the teeth. Bone lost at that point does not grow back. Teeth loosen, gums recede, and eventually teeth are lost. Treatment can halt the process and stabilise things - which is exactly why catching it early matters so much.
Signs worth acting on
- Bleeding when you brush or floss
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste
- Gums pulling back so teeth look longer
- Increased sensitivity at the gum line
- Teeth that feel loose or have shifted
How it is treated
We measure the depth of the pockets around each tooth and take X-rays where needed to see the bone level. That gives a baseline and tells us how far it has gone.
Treatment is a thorough clean below the gum line - scaling and root planing - removing hardened deposits from the root surfaces where a toothbrush cannot reach. It may be done over more than one appointment, with local anaesthetic if the pockets are deep. Afterwards we review to check the gums have responded.
The part that is yours
Gum treatment only works if the daily cleaning improves alongside it. We will show you what to change - usually technique and consistency rather than effort. Smoking makes gum disease substantially worse and masks the bleeding that would otherwise warn you.
