Gum disease - NHS

Gum disease is where the gums become red, swollen and sore, and bleed. It's very common, but it's important to get it checked by a dentist. Skiptomaincontent Home HealthAtoZ Backto HealthAtoZ Gumdisease Gumdiseaseiswherethegumsbecomered,swollenandsore,andbleed.It'sverycommon,butit'simportanttogetitcheckedbyadentist. Checkifyouhavegumdisease Symptomsofgumdiseaseinclude:yourgumsbleedingwhenyoubrushyourteeth,flossoreathardfoodssuchasapplesyourgumsbecomingswollen,redandsoreGumdiseasecanleadto:badbreathandabadtasteinthemouthyourgumsshrinkingyourteethbecominglooseorfallingout Non-urgentadvice:Seeadentistif: yourgumsbleedwhenyoubrushyourteethoreathardfoodsyourgumsarepainfulandswollenyouhavebadbreathyourchildhassore,bleedinggums Urgentadvice:Askforanurgentdentistappointmentif: Youoryourchildhavegumdiseaseandothersymptomssuchas:verysoreandswollengumsteethbecominglooseorfallingoutulcersorredpatchesinyourmouthalumpinyourmouthoronyourlip Information: Toseeadentistinanemergencyoroutofhours:callyourdentist–ifthey'reclosed,theiranswerphonemaytellyouwhattodoIfyoudonothaveadentistorcannotgetanemergencyappointment:call111–theycanadviseyouwhattodofindadentistnearyou–askifyoucanhaveanemergencyappointmentYoumayhavetopayforyourappointment.ReadmoreaboutNHSdentalcharges. Getregulardentalcheck-ups Youshouldhaveregulardentalcheck-upsevenifyoudonothaveanyproblems.Seeadentistifyouhavenothadacheck-upfor2years(or1yearifyou'reunder18). Treatmentsforgumdisease Yourdentistwillcheckyourteethandgums,andmaytakesomeX-raystocheckyourteethandjawbone.Theymayalsoreferyoutoaspecialistforfurthertestsandtreatment.Howgumdiseaseistreateddependsonhowsevereitis.Intheearlystages,yourdentistwill:giveyouadviceaboutkeepingyourteethclean,suchasusinginterdentalbrushesadviseyoutostopsmoking,ifyousmokeadviseyoutogetyourteethcleanedbyahygienistIfyourgumdiseaseisserious,youmayneed:tohavedeepcleaningunderthegumsantibioticstohavesometeethremovedgumsurgery Costofdentaltreatment NHSdentaltreatmentisfreeforsomepeople,including:childrenagedunder18,orunder19andinfull-timeeducationifyou'repregnantorhavehadababyinthepast12monthsifyou'reonsomebenefits,includingIncomeSupportorUniversalCreditIfyoudonotqualifyforfreedentalcare,youwillusuallyhavetopayfortreatment.Findoutmoreaboutdentalcosts Preventinggumdisease Gumdiseaseiscausedbyabuild-upofplaqueontheteeth.Ifyoudonotremoveplaquefromyourteethbybrushingandcleaninginbetweenthemregularly,itbuildsupandirritatesyourgums.Therearethingsyoucandoyourselftopreventgumdisease. Do brushyourteethwithfluoridetoothpasteatleasttwiceaday–spitafterbrushing,donotrinse cleaninbetweenyourteetheverydayusingflossorinterdentalbrushes replaceyourtoothbrushevery1to3months seeadentistanddentalhygienistforregularcheck-ups,especiallyifyou'repregnantorhavetype2diabetes Don’t donotusemouthwashstraightafterbrushingyourteeth donotsmoke Information: FindoutmoreTakingcareofyourteethandgumsLookingafteryourchildren'steethLookingafteryourbaby'steeth Pagelastreviewed:18February2022 Nextreviewdue:18February2025