Gum Disease Explained: Gingivitis vs Periodontitis

Gum disease starts with plaque — a film of bacteria that forms on your teeth every day — sitting against the gum line for long enough to inflame it. Left alone, that inflammation can spread from the gum into the bone that holds your teeth in.

Brushing removes most plaque. What's left hardens into tartar within a couple of days, and tartar can't be brushed away — it has to be professionally scaled off. That's the mechanical reason gum disease creeps up on people who brush perfectly well but skip hygiene visits.

Some things make it more likely regardless of how well you clean: smoking, some medications that reduce saliva, pregnancy, diabetes, and simply getting older. None of them make it inevitable, and none of them make it untreatable.

Gingivitis — reversible

This is inflammation of the gum only: red, puffy, and prone to bleeding when you brush. It usually isn't painful, which is exactly why it's easy to ignore. Caught here, it clears up completely with a hygiene visit and better technique at home.

Periodontitis — managed, not reversed

Left long enough, the infection reaches the bone underneath the gum. Gums recede, teeth loosen, gaps open up between them, and bad breath becomes persistent. Treatment stops it progressing, but bone that's already been lost does not grow back — which is the entire reason gingivitis is worth acting on quickly rather than waiting to see.

Untreated gum disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and complications in pregnancy. Looking after your gums isn't only about your mouth.

• A hygiene visit removes what's already hardened. No amount of home care removes tartar once it's set — that step needs a professional scale.
• Cleaning between your teeth once a day is the step almost everyone skips, and it's where gum disease starts — floss or interdental brushes, not just a toothbrush.
• Every six months suits most people, but if you've had gum disease before, smoke, or have diabetes, more frequent hygiene visits are usually worth it.
• Don't back off a bleeding area. The instinct to brush more gently or avoid it makes things worse — the bleeding is caused by plaque sitting there, so it needs cleaning, not avoiding.

Book a hygiene appointment

Left untreated for long enough, periodontitis is one of the most common reasons adults lose teeth. If that's already happened, here's how a missing tooth is replaced.

• Dental Hygienist — book the appointment that actually treats this.
• Night guards and teeth grinding — another everyday habit worth catching early.