Healthy gums don’t bleed. If you see pink in the sink when you brush or floss, the most common reason is gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, caused by plaque sitting along the gumline. The good news is that at this stage it’s reversible. A professional clean and a few changes to how you clean at home usually settle it within a couple of weeks.

That said, bleeding is your gums telling you something. Here’s how to work out what, and when it’s time to book in with us in Hammersmith.

Key Takeaways

  • Bleeding when you brush is usually an early sign of gum disease, not a sign you’re brushing too hard.
  • Gingivitis can be reversed. Periodontitis, the later stage, can be controlled but the damage to bone doesn’t grow back.
  • Don’t stop brushing the area that bleeds. Gentle, thorough cleaning is what helps it heal.
  • If your gums have bled for more than a week or two, book a check-up and hygiene appointment.

What Causes Gums to Bleed?

Plaque is a soft, sticky film of bacteria that builds up on your teeth every day. When it’s left along the gumline, your gums react to it. They become red, puffy and tender, and they bleed easily when a brush or floss touches them. That’s gingivitis.

If plaque stays put, it hardens into tartar (calculus). You can’t brush tartar off, and it gives bacteria a rough surface to cling to, below the gumline as well as above it.

Other things make bleeding more likely:

  • Smoking, which damages gum tissue and can also mask bleeding, so smokers often don’t notice gum disease until it’s advanced
  • Pregnancy, when hormone changes make gums more reactive to plaque
  • Type 2 diabetes, which is closely linked with gum disease in both directions
  • Some medicines, including blood thinners
  • A new flossing routine. Gums often bleed for the first few days and then settle as they get healthier

Am I Brushing Too Hard?

Sometimes, but less often than people think. Heavy scrubbing with a hard brush can wear gums away over time, and that’s worth fixing. But bleeding on its own is far more likely to be inflammation than injury.

A common mistake is brushing the bleeding area less because it looks sore. That leaves more plaque behind, so the bleeding gets worse. Use a soft or medium brush, angle it towards the gumline, and keep going gently.

Gingivitis or Periodontitis: What’s The Difference?

Gingivitis affects the gum only. No bone has been lost, and with a good clean and better home care, the gum returns to normal.

Periodontitis is what happens when gingivitis is left long enough. The gum starts to come away from the tooth and forms a pocket. Bacteria get into that pocket, and the bone holding the tooth in place slowly breaks down. Signs include:

  • Gums that look like they’re shrinking, making teeth look longer
  • Bad breath or a bad taste that doesn’t go away
  • Teeth that feel loose or have started to move
  • Gaps appearing between teeth
  • Pus around the gumline or a gum abscess

Periodontitis doesn’t usually hurt until it’s quite advanced, which is why so many people don’t realise they have it. It’s also one of the main reasons adults lose teeth.

What We Do at Your Appointment

At a check-up, your dentist looks at your gums and measures the space between the gum and tooth with a small, blunt probe. Healthy gums sit snugly. Deeper pockets tell us gum disease has moved beyond gingivitis. We may take X-rays to check the bone levels too.

From there, treatment depends on what we find.

For gingivitis, a hygiene appointment is usually enough. Your hygienist removes plaque and tartar, polishes the teeth and shows you exactly where you’re missing when you clean. That last part matters more than most people expect. Everyone has their own blind spots, often behind the lower front teeth and around the back molars.

For periodontitis, we clean below the gumline to remove the tartar and bacteria from the pockets. This is our deep gum treatment. It’s done with local anaesthetic, so it’s comfortable, and often over more than one visit. You’ll then come back for regular maintenance cleans to keep things stable.

If you’re nervous about having your gums cleaned, tell us. Our Enjoyable Dentistry Technique™ was designed for anxious and phobic patients and can be used for hygiene appointments as well as treatment.

How to Stop Your Gums Bleeding at Home

These steps follow NHS advice and are what we’d recommend to any patient:

  1. Brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. Electric brushes make it easier to get the angle right.
  2. Spit after brushing; don’t rinse. Rinsing washes the fluoride away.
  3. Clean between your teeth once a day with interdental brushes or floss. Interdental brushes are easier for most adults, and your hygienist can tell you which sizes fit.
  4. Don’t use mouthwash straight after brushing. Use it at a different time of day if you use it at all.
  5. If you smoke, stopping makes a real difference to how well your gums respond to treatment.

Give it two weeks. If the bleeding hasn’t settled, or it’s getting worse, come and see us.

When Bleeding Gums Need an Urgent Appointment

Call us the same day if you have gum disease along with any of these:

  • Very sore, swollen gums
  • Loose teeth or teeth that feel like they’re moving
  • Ulcers or red patches that won’t heal
  • A lump in your mouth or on your lip
  • Swelling in your face or a gum abscess

We offer same-day appointments for most dental emergencies. If you’re outside our hours and can’t get an emergency appointment, call NHS 111 for advice.

Bleeding Gums FAQs

Is it normal for gums to bleed when you floss?

It’s common, but it isn’t normal. Gums that bleed when you floss are inflamed. If you’ve just started flossing, keep going for a week or so. Bleeding often settles as the gums heal. If it doesn’t, book a check-up.

Can bleeding gums go away on their own?

Not usually. The bleeding is caused by plaque and tartar, and tartar has to be removed professionally. Better cleaning at home helps a lot, but most people need a hygiene appointment to reset things.

How long does it take for gingivitis to clear up?

With a professional clean and good home care, most people see a big improvement within one to two weeks.

Is gum disease linked to other health problems?

Research has linked gum disease with conditions including diabetes and heart disease. The link with diabetes is the strongest. Keeping your gums healthy is part of looking after your overall health. We’ve written more about this in our post on oral health and overall wellness.

How much does a hygiene appointment cost?

A 30-minute hygiene appointment at The Care Dental Practice is £88, and a new patient hygiene appointment is £110. You can see our full price list on our fees page.

Book a gum health check in Hammersmith

If your gums have been bleeding for a while, the sooner we look, the simpler the fix tends to be. Get in touch with us at any time or call us on 0208 846 8534. You’ll find us at 118-120 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP, open six days a week with evening appointments until 8pm.