Gum Treatment, bleeding gums are an early warning, not a nuisance

Because they're inflamed, healthy gums don't bleed. The commonest cause is tartar built up at the gumline, harbouring bacteria and keeping the inflammation going. The irony is that many people then brush the bleeding area less out of fear, so the tartar builds further and the bleeding worsens. Other causes worth checking include pregnancy, vitamin deficiency, certain medications and poorly controlled diabetes.

It depends on the stage, which is exactly why early assessment matters. Simple gingivitis is fully reversible: a thorough cleaning plus consistent home care and the gums return to health within weeks. Advanced periodontitis where bone has already been lost is different; that bone doesn't come back on its own. What we do is halt the disease, prevent further loss and stabilise things. This is why bleeding gums should never be put off.

Routine cleaning above the gumline isn't painful at all. Deep cleaning inside the pockets can be uncomfortable, which is why we do it under local anesthesia whenever needed, and most patients afterwards describe it as easier than they expected. You may feel sensitivity to cold for a few days because the root surface is now clean and exposed; that settles gradually.

Sometimes, yes. Slight mobility caused by inflammation and swelling often improves markedly once the deep cleaning is done and the inflammation resolves. Significant mobility from major loss of supporting bone is harder, and we may splint the tooth to its neighbours or consider further procedures. We won't promise an outcome before measuring the pockets and seeing the imaging, and results vary from case to case.

Gum disease is a chronic condition that's managed rather than cured once and for all. The formula is simple: brush twice daily with a soft brush, clean between the teeth every day with floss or interdental brushes, this is the step most people skip, and it's exactly where tartar starts, and a maintenance cleaning every six months, or as often as your case needs. Smokers and people with diabetes need closer follow-up.