The leading cause of adult tooth loss — and it is almost entirely preventable.
Gum disease starts silently. Bacteria in plaque irritate the gums, causing inflammation. Left alone, that inflammation spreads below the gumline and begins destroying the bone holding your teeth in place.
The frustrating part is that it rarely hurts until it is advanced. People lose teeth to a condition that gave them almost no warning.
The Warning Signs
- Bleeding when you brush or floss — the earliest and most ignored sign. Healthy gums do not bleed.
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste
- Gums pulling back, making teeth look longer
- Sensitivity at the gumline where root surface is exposed
- Teeth that feel loose, or a bite that has changed
- Pus around the gumline
If your gums bleed regularly, that is not normal and it is not something to brush harder at. Come in.
Gingivitis and Periodontitis
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums only. No bone has been lost. It is fully reversible with a professional cleaning and better home care — and this is the stage to catch it.
Periodontitis is what gingivitis becomes when it is left. Inflammation extends below the gumline, pockets form between gum and tooth, and the supporting bone is destroyed. Bone loss is permanent. Treatment stops the progression and stabilises what remains, but it does not grow the bone back.
That distinction is the whole reason to act on bleeding gums early.
Treatment
Scaling and root planing
Often called deep cleaning. We clean below the gumline, removing tartar and bacteria from the root surfaces and smoothing them so gum tissue can reattach. Usually done under local anaesthetic, often across two appointments.
This is not the same as a routine cleaning, and it is priced differently. We will explain which you need.
Maintenance
After treatment, most patients move to cleanings every three or four months rather than six. Gum disease is managed, not cured — the maintenance interval is what keeps it stable.
Advanced cases
Where pockets remain deep after initial treatment, referral for periodontal surgery may be appropriate. Where a tooth has lost too much support, extraction and replacement is sometimes the realistic outcome.
Why It Matters Beyond Your Mouth
Gum disease is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other systemic conditions. The relationship with diabetes runs both ways — uncontrolled blood sugar worsens gum disease, and gum inflammation makes blood sugar harder to control. If you are diabetic, your gum health is worth genuine attention.
Prevention
- Brush twice daily for two minutes, angled into the gumline
- Clean between your teeth daily — floss, interdental brushes or a water flosser
- Keep to your checkup and cleaning schedule
- Stop smoking — it is the single largest modifiable risk factor, and it masks the bleeding that would otherwise warn you
Gum Disease and Implants
Active gum disease must be treated before implant treatment. Implants fail in unhealthy tissue for the same reasons teeth do. Getting your gums stable first is not a delay tactic — it is what makes the implant last.
Cost and Coverage
Scaling and root planing is priced by the number of quadrants treated and the time required. See fees and payment. Periodontal treatment is covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan and most private plans, sometimes with frequency limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can gum disease be reversed?
Gingivitis, yes, completely. Periodontitis can be halted and managed, but lost bone does not return.
Does deep cleaning hurt?
It is done with local anaesthetic. Some tenderness for a few days afterwards is normal.
My gums bleed — is that serious?
It is the earliest sign of gum disease and the easiest stage to treat. Get it looked at rather than waiting to see whether it settles.
Will I lose my teeth?
Not if it is treated. Untreated periodontitis is the leading cause of adult tooth loss, which is precisely why treating it matters.