Bleeding gums deserve an assessment. Gum disease can affect the tissues supporting your teeth, and early care can help protect your oral health.
Gum (periodontal) disease is a bacterial infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. It starts as gingivitis — red, puffy gums that bleed when you brush — and, left untreated, can progress to periodontitis: the gums pull away from the teeth, bone dissolves, and teeth loosen. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss and may develop without noticeable pain, which is why examination and follow-up matter.
Gentle measurements around every tooth map the health of your gums. You'll see the numbers and understand exactly where you stand.
A 'deep cleaning' below the gumline removes hardened deposits from the root surfaces — with numbing and a schedule tailored to the areas needing treatment.
We recheck bleeding, gum measurements, and your home routine to see how you've responded and whether any areas need more treatment.
Ongoing professional care and daily cleaning help manage periodontitis. Your return schedule depends on your gum health and treatment response.
Some areas need additional care alongside scaling and root planing. A locally placed product delivers treatment to a selected site below the gumline. Arestin contains the antibiotic minocycline and is used with scaling and root planing for adult periodontitis. It does not replace the cleaning or your follow-up visits.
Our targeted gum care guide explains Arestin and PerioStōm as separate products, with different ingredients, precautions, and reasons for use. We'll explain why a product is being considered for a particular area, the expected benefit, and how we'll reassess it. Tell us about allergies, medicines, pregnancy, or breastfeeding before treatment.
After an application, follow the instructions for that exact product, including any temporary changes to cleaning around the treated site. Call us if those instructions are unclear.
Brush gently along the gumline twice a day and clean between your teeth daily. If floss is difficult to handle, ask about interdental brushes or a water flosser. Avoid tobacco and keep the maintenance visits recommended for you.
A powered toothbrush can help with timing and technique, while a water flosser offers another way to clean between teeth. We can demonstrate how to use your tool around bridges, implants, or other hard-to-reach areas.
If a prescription rinse is part of your plan, use it for the directed purpose and duration. Bleeding that returns needs a review; don't simply restart an old prescription.
Periodontal disease is associated with several medical conditions. We’ll consider your health history when planning gum care and coordinate with your medical team when needed. These associations do not mean gum treatment is proven to prevent those conditions.