Gum Disease Treatment
Deeper cleanings that help gums heal and reattach.
Treat gum diseaseSpotted some pink?
What causes bleeding gums?
Healthy gums don't bleed from normal brushing and flossing. Bleeding almost always means inflammation from plaque along the gumline, the earliest stage of gum disease. The good news? Caught at this stage, it's fully reversible.
Inflammation, minus the jargon.
Plaque that sits along the gumline hardens into tartar, and your gums respond by swelling and bleeding easily. That stage is gingivitis. Left alone, the inflammation works deeper, the gums detach, and bone quietly erodes; that stage is periodontitis, and it doesn't reverse on its own. What separates the two? Mostly time.
Some medications, pregnancy hormones, and certain health conditions make gums bleed more easily too, so mention them at your visit. Still, the honest starting point for most people is a professional cleaning and better home technique, and the bleeding fades within a couple of weeks. Our gum disease page explains what happens when deeper cleaning is needed.
How urgent is it
Is it time to call?
Call today
Bleeding with swelling and pain, gums pulling away from your teeth, loose teeth, or a bad taste that sticks around alongside the bleeding.
This month
Bleeding when you brush or floss that's gone on for more than two weeks. Book a cleaning and gum assessment; early treatment is simple.
Watch at home
A little bleeding after you restart flossing. Keep at it gently every day; it should stop within a week or two as your gums heal.
Gentle on your budget.
A cleaning with a gum assessment is one of the most affordable visits in dentistry, and deeper cleaning, when it's needed, comes staged with a written estimate. Many PPO plans cover periodontal care at out-of-network rates, and we file as a courtesy. How benefits work here.
Gum questions, straight up.
Should I stop flossing if my gums bleed?
No, just the opposite. Gentle daily flossing removes the plaque causing the inflammation. Bleeding from restarting floss typically stops within two weeks. If it doesn't, get checked.
Is bleeding while pregnant normal?
Pregnancy hormones make gums more reactive to plaque, so bleeding is common, but it's still worth managing. Cleanings during pregnancy are safe and recommended.
Can bleeding gums affect my overall health?
Gum disease is linked with several health conditions, and the inflammation is real. Caring for your gums is a legitimate part of taking care of the rest of you.
How do I know if it is gingivitis or periodontitis?
We measure. We check the pocket depth around each tooth and review X-rays, then show you the numbers and what they mean. Gingivitis reverses; periodontitis gets controlled.
Pink in the sink is a signal.
Book a cleaning and gum check online, or give the office a call.