Bleeding gums aren't normal. Here's what they're telling you

Stage one is gingivitis, and it's fully reversible

Plaque bacteria sitting along the gumline inflame the gums. They go red and puffy, and they bleed when you brush. At this stage no permanent damage has been done. A professional clean plus properly good home care can bring gums back to full health, usually within a few weeks.

Stage two is periodontitis, and it's only manageable

Given enough time, the inflammation moves below the gumline and starts dissolving the bone that anchors your teeth. Gums recede, pockets deepen around the teeth, and eventually teeth loosen. It's the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and for most of its course it doesn't hurt at all.

The bone that's been lost doesn't grow back. But the disease can be stopped and held stable, with deep cleaning below the gumline, a regular maintenance rhythm, and home care that reaches where the disease actually lives.

It's not only about your teeth

Research links gum disease with harder-to-control diabetes, and there are established associations with cardiovascular disease. Those links are taken seriously enough that looking after your gums is considered part of looking after your general health, especially if you're diabetic. Smokers should also know that smoking speeds gum disease up while hiding the bleeding that would normally warn you.

What actually works at home

Brush twice a day along the gumline with fluoride toothpaste. Clean between your teeth once a day, with floss or the little interdental brushes, because your toothbrush can't reach there. Don't smoke. Then let a professional clean deal with the hardened tartar that no amount of brushing will remove.

Quick questions

My gums bleed but nothing hurts. Do I really need to come in?

Yes, and that silence is exactly how gum disease does its damage. A gum assessment measures what's happening below the surface, and a scale and polish starts from $150.