Gingivitus

When your gums bleed it means that you have gum disease (or gingivitis). Healthy gums do NOT bleed. The gums appear red and inflamed and you may be aware of a bad taste or bad breath. The gums are not necessarily painful and gingivitis can progress for many years without pain. Gum disease is caused by plaque. This is the sticky film of bacteria that naturally forms on the teeth of everybody every day. If gingivitis progresses, it can spread to the bone supporting the teeth (periodontist). In the long term, if this is left untreated, you could lose your teeth.

Gum disease is preventable and, in its early stages, can be completely cured by a good homecare regime to remove the build up of plaque from all the surfaces of all the teeth.