Gum Disease: A Practical Checklist
Gum Disease: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
Inflammation of the gums, from reversible gingivitis to bone-destroying periodontitis. It is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, is painless until late, and is associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Key takeaways
- Earliest sign: bleeding gums when brushing
- Gingivitis: reversible with good cleaning
- Most useful single change: Clean between teeth daily with floss or interdental brushes.
- Commonest mistake: Stopping brushing an area because it bleeds.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- Clean between teeth daily with floss or interdental brushes
- Treat bleeding gums as a signal to clean more, not less
- Stop smoking, which both worsens gum disease and masks the bleeding
- Tell your dentist if you have diabetes; the two interact strongly
Do not
- Stopping brushing an area because it bleeds
- Relying on mouthwash instead of mechanical cleaning
- Skipping dental check-ups because nothing hurts
The numbers behind the list
Here are the figures the checklist is drawn from.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Earliest sign | bleeding gums when brushing |
| Gingivitis | reversible with good cleaning |
| Periodontitis | causes irreversible bone loss |
| Strongest risk factors | smoking, diabetes, poor plaque control |
If you change one thing
Clean between teeth daily with floss or interdental brushes. It is first on the list above. If the rest feels like too much at once, start there and leave the others.
Where to go next
- Popular Beliefs About Gum Disease, and What Is Actually Published
- Gum Disease: A Beginner-Friendly Start
- Gum Disease — the reference entry
- Tooth Decay: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- Dental Check-Ups: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to speak to a doctor
See a dentist for persistent bleeding gums, receding gums, loose teeth, or persistent bad breath. Seek urgent dental care for facial swelling, difficulty swallowing or opening the mouth, or fever with toothache — a spreading dental infection is an emergency and can obstruct the airway.
Where this comes from
- NHS — Gum disease
- Delivering Better Oral Health — toolkit
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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