Symptoms & conditions
Bleeding gums
The short answer
Bleeding when you brush or floss is not normal. It almost always means gum inflammation (gingivitis) that is reversible with one or two professional cleanings. Ignored, it progresses into bone loss (periodontitis) that is not reversible.
What's happening
The clinical picture
Bacterial plaque that sits at the gum line for more than 24 hours triggers inflammation. The gums swell, turn a darker red, and bleed on contact. At this stage — gingivitis — everything is reversible. One cleaning plus proper daily brushing and flossing resolves it fully within 2 weeks. If the bacteria move under the gum line and start dissolving bone, the condition becomes periodontitis: pockets form between tooth and gum, bone disappears, and teeth eventually loosen. Periodontitis is treatable but the bone loss is permanent.
Warning signs
Contact us the same day if:
- Heavy bleeding with brushing every day for 2+ weeks
- Gums that have visibly receded — teeth look longer
- Persistent bad breath that mouthwash doesn't mask
- Loose teeth or teeth shifting
- Pus visible at the gum line
What we do
Our approach
Full periodontal exam — we probe pocket depths around every tooth and note bleeding sites. For gingivitis: one or two scaling-and-polishing visits. For periodontitis: quadrant-by-quadrant deep cleaning (scaling and root planing), sometimes local antibiotics. Follow-up at 3 months to confirm healing. Home care coaching is part of every visit — you leave knowing exactly what to do differently.
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