If you’ve noticed red, swollen or bleeding gums, it’s natural to wonder whether you can fix the problem yourself. The honest answer depends on how far the gum disease has progressed. Early gum disease (gingivitis) can often be reversed with good home care and a professional cleaning, but more advanced gum disease (periodontitis) can’t be cured without a dentist.
Gum disease can lead to tooth loss, bone damage, and may be linked to other health problems, so it’s worth knowing what you can do at home, what you can’t, and when it’s time to book an appointment.
Understanding Gum Disease & Its Stages
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone supporting your teeth. It often develops slowly and painlessly, which is why many people don’t realize they have it until it has advanced.
Gingivitis: The Early, Reversible Stage
Gingivitis is the earliest stage. It’s marked by red, swollen gums that may bleed easily when you brush or floss. At this stage, the damage is limited to the gums, and gingivitis can usually be reversed with consistent oral hygiene and a professional cleaning.
Periodontitis: The Advanced Stage
If gingivitis is left unchecked, it can advance to periodontitis. At this stage, the gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets that trap bacteria and can become infected. In advanced periodontitis, the bone and fibres that support your teeth are destroyed, and teeth can become loose or may need to be removed. Periodontitis can be treated and controlled, but the damage it has already done, such as lost bone, doesn’t simply heal on its own.
For more on what’s at stake, see our post on how long you can keep your teeth with periodontal disease.
Signs of Gum Disease
Watch for these warning signs:
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss (see why gums bleed when you brush)
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
- Gums that are pulling away from your teeth
- Loose teeth or a change in how your teeth fit together
- Pus around the teeth and gums
Because early gum disease can be painless, regular dental exams are the best way to catch it.
What You Can Do at Home
Home care is the foundation of treating gingivitis, and it’s also essential after professional treatment for more advanced gum disease. Here’s what makes a difference:
- Brush twice a day for two minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush, angling the bristles gently toward the gum line. Scrubbing hard can irritate your gums, so see our post on hard versus soft toothbrushes.
- Clean between your teeth daily. Floss or use interdental brushes to remove plaque your toothbrush can’t reach. If your teeth hurt or your gums feel sore when you floss, this guide can help.
- Use an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash if your dentist recommends one.
- Don’t smoke or vape. Tobacco is one of the biggest risk factors for gum disease and makes it harder to treat.
- Eat a balanced diet and limit sugary snacks and drinks that feed plaque bacteria.
- Manage related health conditions. Diabetes, for example, can make gum disease harder to control.
How Long Does It Take to Reverse Gingivitis?
It varies from person to person. Many people notice less bleeding and swelling within a couple of weeks of consistent brushing and cleaning between their teeth, but you still need a dental exam to confirm the gum disease is gone. If your gums don’t improve, or the gum disease keeps coming back, plaque may have hardened into tartar. Tartar can’t be removed at home and needs a professional cleaning.
What About Home Remedies?
You’ll find many home remedies online, such as warm salt water rinses, oil pulling, baking soda, herbal rinses and gels. A warm salt water rinse may soothe sore gums for a short time, but there’s little reliable evidence that these remedies treat gum disease. None of them can remove the tartar and bacteria below the gum line that drive periodontitis. Some, like undiluted hydrogen peroxide or acidic rinses, can irritate your gums. Ask your dentist before trying one.
When You Need a Dentist
You should see a dentist if:
- Your gums have been bleeding or swollen for more than a couple of weeks, even with good home care
- Your gums are pulling back or your teeth feel loose
- You have persistent bad breath that doesn’t go away
- You notice pus around a tooth or gum
If you have a painful, swollen area of gum, especially with a fever, it could be an abscess. Read about the symptoms of an abscessed tooth and call us promptly. If you have swelling along with trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the nearest emergency room.
Professional Gum Disease Treatment
Good oral hygiene is key to reversing the early stages of gum disease, but a dentist is needed to treat anything more advanced.
Professional Cleaning
A professional cleaning can often reverse the early stages of gum disease:
- Scaling: gently removing plaque and tartar from your teeth and below the gum line.
- Root planing: smoothing the tooth roots to help the gums reattach to your teeth.
Medications
Depending on severity, your dentist might prescribe medications to help control infection and reduce inflammation:
- Antibiotic gels or mouth rinses: applied directly to the gums.
- Oral antibiotics: sometimes needed for more severe infections.
Laser Treatment
In some cases, laser dentistry can be used to treat gum tissue with precision. Our Solea laser can be used for certain gum treatments. Ask your dentist whether it’s an option for you.
Surgical Treatments
Advanced cases of gum disease may require surgery:
- Flap surgery: the gums are lifted back, the tartar is removed, and the gums are sutured back in place so they fit snugly around the teeth.
- Bone grafts: if bone has been destroyed by gum disease, a graft can help support regrowth of natural bone.
- Soft tissue grafts: tissue is taken from another part of your mouth, or a donor, and attached to reinforce thin or receding gums.
If gum disease has damaged a tooth beyond repair, an extraction may be the safest option.
Complications of Untreated Gum Disease
Left untreated, gum disease can lead to:
- Tooth loss: gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults, as it destroys the bone and tissue that support your teeth.
- Bone damage: advanced gum disease can erode the jawbone, which can affect the shape of your face and smile.
- Links to other health conditions: research has found associations between gum disease and conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and respiratory infections. These are links, and researchers are still working out cause and effect, but they’re one more reason to take gum health seriously.
Gum Disease FAQs
Can gum disease be cured?
Gingivitis can usually be reversed completely with good home care and a professional cleaning. Periodontitis can’t be cured, but it can be treated and kept under control with professional care and good home hygiene.
Can you get rid of gum disease without a dentist?
Mild gingivitis may improve with better home care, but you need a dentist to confirm it’s gone and to remove tartar, which can’t be cleaned off at home. Periodontitis requires professional treatment.
Can gum disease go away on its own?
No. Without better oral hygiene and professional care, gum disease tends to get worse over time.
Can you reverse periodontitis?
Treatment can stop the disease from progressing and often improves gum health. Bone that has been lost doesn’t grow back on its own, although procedures such as bone grafts may help in some cases.
What’s the fastest way to treat gum disease?
Book a dental exam. A professional cleaning removes the plaque and tartar causing the problem, and your dentist can tell you what stage you’re at and what treatment you need. Consistent brushing and cleaning between your teeth afterwards keeps gum disease from coming back.
Book an Appointment with Us Today
Gum disease isn’t something to ignore. The earlier it’s caught, the simpler and less costly it is to treat. If you notice any signs of gum disease, call our team at Genesis Dental or book an appointment online. We’ll examine your gums, explain what’s going on, and create a treatment plan tailored to you.
