This NHS content is written for people in England. Services, entitlements and contact routes may differ in other countries.
Symptoms of gum disease
Symptoms of gum disease include:
- your gums bleeding when you brush your teeth, floss or eat hard foods, such as apples
- your gums becoming swollen, red and sore
Gum disease can lead to:
- bad breath and a bad taste in your mouth
- your gums shrinking
- your teeth becoming loose or falling out
- a dental abscess
See a dentist if:
- your gums bleed when you brush your teeth or eat hard foods
- your gums are painful and swollen
- you have bad breath
- your child has sore, bleeding gums
Ask for an urgent dentist appointment if:
You or your child has gum disease and other symptoms such as:
- very sore and swollen gums
- teeth becoming loose or falling out
- ulcers or red patches in your mouth
- a lump in your mouth or on your lip
Treatments for gum disease
Your dentist will check your teeth and gums.
They may also refer you to a specialist for further tests and treatment.
How gum disease is treated depends on how severe it is.
In the early stages, your dentist will:
- give you advice about keeping your teeth clean, such as using interdental brushes
- advise you to stop smoking, if you smoke
- advise you to get your teeth cleaned by a hygienist
If your gum disease is serious, you may need:
- to have deep cleaning under your gums
- antibiotics
- to have some teeth removed
- gum surgery
Preventing gum disease
Gum disease is caused by a build-up of plaque on your teeth.
If you do not remove plaque from your teeth by brushing and cleaning in between them regularly, it builds up and irritates your gums.
There are things you can do yourself to prevent gum disease.
Do
brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day – spit after brushing, do not rinse
clean in between your teeth every day using floss or interdental brushes
see a dentist and dental hygienist for regular check-ups, especially if you're pregnant or have type 2 diabetes
Don't
do not use mouthwash straight after brushing your teeth
do not smoke
Gum disease
Gum disease
Gum disease
Symptoms of gum disease include bleeding when you brush your teeth, floss or eat hard foods, and swollen, red and sore gums.
Mild gum disease is treated by getting your teeth cleaned by a hygienist. You may need deep cleaning, antibiotics or gum surgery if it's more serious.
You can prevent gum disease by brushing and cleaning in between your teeth every day, going for regular dental check-ups and stopping smoking.
Content supplied by the NHS website, refreshed 19 August 2026. View the original NHS article ↗
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