Gum disease is where the gums become red, swollen and sore, and bleed. It’s very common, but it’s important to get it checked by a dentist.
Check if you have gum disease
Symptoms of gum disease include:
- your gums bleeding when you brush your teeth, floss or eat hard foods such as apples
- your gums becoming swollen, red and sore
Gum disease can lead to:
- bad breath and a bad taste in the mouth
- your gums shrinking
- your teeth becoming loose or falling out
See a dentist if:
- your gums bleed when you brush your teeth or eat hard foods
- your gums are painful and swollen
- you have bad breath
- your child has sore, bleeding gums
Ask for an urgent dentist appointment if:
You or your child have gum disease and other symptoms such as:
- very sore and swollen gums
- teeth becoming loose or falling out
- ulcers or red patches in your mouth
- a lump in your mouth or on your lip
Get regular dental check-ups
You should have regular dental check-ups even if you do not have any problems. See a dentist if you have not had a check-up for 2 years (or 1 year if you’re under 18).
Treatments for gum disease
Your dentist will check your teeth and gums, and may take some X-rays to check your teeth and jaw bone.
They may also refer you to a specialist for further tests and treatment.
How gum disease is treated depends on how severe it is.
In the early stages, your dentist will:
- give you advice about keeping your teeth clean, such as using interdental brushes
- advise you to stop smoking, if you smoke
- advise you to get your teeth cleaned by a hygienist
If your gum disease is serious, you may need:
- to have deep cleaning under the gums
- antibiotics
- to have some teeth removed
- gum surgery
Preventing gum disease
Gum disease is caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth.
If you do not remove plaque from your teeth by brushing and cleaning in between them regularly, it builds up and irritates your gums.
