Quick answer: The most common signs of gum disease are red or swollen gums, bleeding when you brush or floss, ongoing bad breath, receding gums, sensitive teeth and loose teeth. You might also notice pain when chewing or feel that your teeth don’t quite fit together the way they used to. Gum disease tends to creep up slowly and often doesn’t hurt in the early stages, so picking up on these changes early can help you get on top of it before it progresses.
Gum disease is extremely common. It ranges from mild inflammation of the gums right through to a more advanced condition that affects the tissue and bone holding your teeth in place. According to healthdirect, around 3 in 10 Australian adults have moderate to severe periodontitis.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is inflammation and infection in the tissues around and supporting your teeth. There are two main stages: gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis is the early stage. It usually starts when plaque, that sticky film full of bacteria, builds up along the gum line. This can leave your gums red, puffy and more prone to bleeding. The good news is that with the right care, gingivitis is generally reversible.
Periodontitis can develop when gum inflammation progresses and the infection spreads deeper into the tissues supporting your teeth. Your gums can start to pull away from your teeth, pockets can form, and bone loss can occur. Once bone and supporting tissue have been lost, that damage generally can’t be fully reversed, but the condition can be managed with appropriate treatment.
7 Signs of Gum Disease to Watch For
1. Red, swollen or tender gums
Healthy gums are firm, not puffy or sore. If yours look red, feel swollen, or hurt when you brush, eat or touch them, that’s usually a sign of inflammation. It’s worth paying attention to swelling that sticks around, rather than the kind that flares up briefly after a knock or a dental procedure.
Red, swollen gums are one of the earliest signs of gingivitis, though they can also show up in more advanced gum disease.
2. Bleeding when brushing or flossing
Seeing blood in the sink is one of the signs that something’s going on with your gums.
It can be tempting to avoid brushing an area that bleeds, but keeping up gentle oral hygiene there is important, because plaque is what’s driving the inflammation in the first place. Healthdirect recommends brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between your teeth regularly.
If your gums bleed regularly, especially without any obvious cause, it’s worth booking in for a check-up rather than putting up with it.
3. Persistent bad breath or a bad taste
Bad breath can come from all sorts of things, but if it’s persistent, or you’ve got an unpleasant taste that won’t shift, gum disease could be part of the picture.
Bacteria in plaque, along with areas of infection around the gums, can contribute to this. If it’s still hanging around despite brushing, flossing and your usual oral hygiene routine, mention it to your dentist.
4. Gums pulling away from your teeth
If your teeth look longer than they used to, this is often down to your gums receding or pulling back.
As the gums recede, more of the tooth surface is exposed, including parts that are normally protected. There are a few different reasons this can happen, so it doesn’t automatically mean gum disease. Still, it’s worth getting checked, particularly if it’s happening alongside bleeding, swelling, sensitivity or loose teeth.
5. Increased tooth sensitivity
If cold drinks, hot food or something sweet is suddenly setting your teeth off, gum disease can sometimes be behind it.
As periodontal disease advances, the gums can recede and expose parts of the tooth that are naturally more sensitive. That said, sensitivity has plenty of other possible causes too, including decay and worn enamel. So don’t jump to conclusions. Get it checked and let your dentist work out what’s actually going on.
6. Loose teeth or changes in your bite
Loose teeth can be a sign that gum disease has affected the bone and tissues supporting your teeth.
You might also notice your bite feels different, like your teeth aren’t meeting the way they used to. This can happen when the structures supporting your teeth are compromised.
If an adult tooth feels loose and there’s no obvious reason for it (no recent knock or injury), don’t wait. Book in promptly.
7. Pain or discomfort when chewing
Gum disease often doesn’t hurt, especially early on, which is exactly why it can progress without anyone noticing. As it advances, though, chewing can start to feel uncomfortable or tender. This tends to show up alongside other signs like swelling, bleeding, recession, loose teeth or bad breath.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Plaque buildup along the gum line is the main trigger.
Plaque is full of bacteria, and if it’s not removed regularly, it hardens into tartar (also called calculus). Once that happens, brushing alone won’t shift it, you’ll need a professional clean.
A few other things can increase your risk, including:
- Smoking or tobacco use
- Diabetes
- Poor oral hygiene
- Certain medications, particularly ones that cause dry mouth
- Hormonal changes, including pregnancy and menopause
- Genetics or a family history of gum disease
- Stress
- Some underlying health conditions
Having one or more of these doesn’t mean you’ll definitely develop gum disease, but it does raise your risk.
Can Gum Disease Happen Without Pain?
Yes, and this is an important one. Waiting until something hurts before seeing a dentist can mean missing the earlier warning signs altogether.
Early gum disease mostly shows up as bleeding, redness or swelling, none of which are especially painful. It’s usually only in the more advanced stages that you start to notice recession, sensitivity, loose teeth and discomfort. Regular check-ups are really the best way to catch gum problems before they become obvious.
When Should You See a Dentist?
It’s worth booking an appointment if you notice:
- Gums that bleed regularly
- Ongoing swelling or redness
- Receding gums
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste
- New or worsening tooth sensitivity
- Loose teeth
- Pain when chewing
- Your bite feeling different
Healthdirect recommends seeing a dental professional if you have symptoms like swollen or bleeding gums, or if your teeth feel loose.
If gum or facial swelling comes with severe pain, uncontrolled bleeding or difficulty breathing, that needs urgent medical or dental attention, not a routine appointment.
How Is Gum Disease Diagnosed?
Your dentist will check your teeth and gums for inflammation, bleeding, recession and other changes. They’ll often measure the depth of the space between your teeth and gums with a small probe. Deeper pockets can point to periodontal disease. X-rays may also be recommended if your dentist needs to check the bone underneath.
The diagnosis comes from what’s found on examination, not just from the symptoms you describe.
How Is Gum Disease Treated?
Treatment depends on whether you’re dealing with early gum inflammation or more advanced periodontal disease.
For gingivitis, a professional clean to remove plaque and tartar, combined with better daily oral hygiene, is usually enough. Because there’s no permanent bone loss involved, gingivitis is generally reversible.
For periodontitis, treatment often involves a deeper clean below the gum line, sometimes called scaling and root planing. More advanced cases might need further periodontal treatment or a referral to a gum specialist.
The goal throughout is to get the infection under control and stop further damage to the structures supporting your teeth.
How Can You Prevent Gum Disease?
Good daily habits go a long way here. A practical routine looks like:
- Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
- Cleaning between your teeth daily with floss or another interdental cleaner
- Keeping up with regular check-ups and professional cleans
- Avoiding smoking and tobacco
- Following your dentist’s advice if you’re at higher risk
It’s important to keep brushing gently even when your gums are bleeding or inflamed, stopping altogether just allows plaque to build up further and can make things worse.
Don’t Ignore Changes to Your Gums
Bleeding gums, swelling, bad breath or sensitivity are easy to brush off, especially when there’s little or no pain involved. But these are often the early warning signs of gum disease, and catching it early can help stop it progressing into something that affects the structures supporting your teeth.
If you’ve noticed any of these changes, a dental examination can get to the bottom of what’s going on and whether treatment is needed.
If you’re in Rozelle or the surrounding Inner West Sydney area and you’re concerned about your gum health, the team at Soothing Care Dental can assess your teeth and gums and talk you through the right treatment options.