What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease (periodontal disease) is a bacterial infection of the gums and the bone that supports the teeth. It begins as gingivitis, with inflammation and bleeding, and can progress to periodontitis, which involves bone loss around the roots. It is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
Why Are My Gums Bleeding?
- Bleeding gums are most commonly caused by plaque accumulation at the gumline the bacterial film that hardens into tartar if not removed by brushing and flossing.
- The gums become inflamed in response to the bacteria. They bleed when touched because the tissue is fragile and inflamed.
- Contrary to common belief, bleeding when you brush is not caused by brushing too hard it’s caused by inflamed gum tissue that wouldn’t bleed if the gums were healthy.
- Other contributing factors include smoking (which masks gum bleeding by reducing blood flow and making disease harder to detect), certain medications, hormonal changes during pregnancy, and poorly controlled diabetes.
- Patients across Crescent Head, Old Bar and the Macleay Valley frequently present with bleeding gums that have been dismissed as normal they aren’t.
What Happens If Gum Disease Is Left Untreated?
Early-stage gum disease (gingivitis) is reversible with professional cleaning and improved home care. Without treatment, it progresses to periodontitis, where bacteria damage the bone holding teeth in place.
Pockets form between the teeth and gums, trapping more bacteria, and bone loss gradually increases. There is no growing that bone back. Periodontitis is managed, not cured. This is why early treatment is so valuable, reversing gingivitis before bone loss begins is always the better outcome.
Treatment
Gingivitis is treated with a professional scale and clean, removing the plaque and tartar that brushing can’t reach, combined with oral hygiene instruction and regular maintenance appointments.
Periodontitis requires more intensive root surface cleaning (root planing) , cleaning below the gumline in the pockets around each tooth. This may take multiple appointments. In advanced cases, referral to a periodontist (gum specialist) is appropriate.
Your dentist will assess your gum health at every check-up and stage treatment based on what they find.
frequently asked questions
My gums only bleed sometimes, does it still matter?
Yes. Intermittent bleeding is still a sign of gum inflammation. It doesn’t become significant only once it’s constant. Get your gums assessed at your next check-up and mention it specifically.
Can I treat bleeding gums at home?
Does smoking cause gum disease?
Is gum disease linked to other health conditions?
Research consistently shows associations between periodontal disease and systemic conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and pre-term birth. The relationship is complex and bidirectional gum disease can make diabetes harder to control, and diabetes makes gum disease worse. Managing gum health is a legitimate part of managing broader health.