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Gingivitis: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Gingivitis is early, reversible gum inflammation. This guide explains what it looks like, what causes it and how to treat it before it turns into something more serious.

Key points

  • Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums caused by plaque, and clinical gum health can be restored after treatment.
  • Signs are red, swollen, sore gums that bleed when you brush, floss or eat hard foods, with bad breath or a bad taste.1
  • Many people ignore it because it often causes little or no pain.
  • The NHS advises brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between the teeth every day and not smoking.1
  • If plaque and inflammation continue, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, which affects the tissues that support the teeth.

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums caused by plaque, and clinical gum health can be restored after treatment.2 It is the first stage of gum disease, and it is very common. It is also the stage at which treatment is simplest, which is why it is worth knowing the signs.

What gingivitis looks like

  • Gums that are red, swollen and sore, instead of pale pink and firm.1
  • Gums that bleed when you brush, floss or eat hard foods.1
  • Bad breath or a bad taste that does not go away.1
  • Gums that look shiny or puffy around the necks of the teeth.

Gingivitis often causes little or no pain, which is why many people ignore it. The teeth are not loose, and the gums have not started to pull away.

What causes it

If plaque is not removed by brushing and cleaning between the teeth, it irritates the gums.1 Plaque is a film of bacteria. Within a day or two, it begins to inflame the gum edge. Several things make gingivitis more likely.

  • Poor or irregular cleaning, especially between the teeth.
  • Smoking, which increases the risk of gum disease.1
  • Pregnancy, when hormonal changes alter the gum response to plaque.
  • Diabetes, where blood sugar and gum health affect each other.
  • Some medicines, and a dry mouth.
  • Crowded teeth, rough fillings or poorly fitting crowns, which trap plaque.
  • Hard deposits (calculus), which cannot be brushed off.

The NHS advises regular check-ups with a dentist and hygienist if you are pregnant or have type 2 diabetes.1

How it is diagnosed

Your dentist looks at the gums, measures any pockets between the gum and the tooth with a probe, and may take X-rays. They ask how you clean your teeth, whether you smoke, and about pregnancy, diabetes and your medicines.1 The key difference from periodontitis is that in gingivitis, there is no loss of the tissue that supports the tooth.

How gingivitis is treated

Treatment starts with advice on cleaning, which may include interdental brushes, help to stop smoking, and cleaning by a hygienist.1 The European guideline for gum disease treats the first step as controlling plaque and risk factors, with professional plaque removal above the gum and control of the things that hold plaque.5

At home, the NHS advises:

  1. Brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day, and spit without rinsing afterwards.1
  2. Clean between your teeth every day with floss or interdental brushes.1
  3. Do not use mouthwash straight after brushing, and do not smoke.1

In a Cochrane review of 35 trials, floss may reduce gingivitis, and interdental brushes may be more effective than floss, but the evidence is low-certainty and the effects may be small.3 Your dentist will show you which size of interdental brush suits each gap.1

What professional cleaning adds

A scale and polish removes hard deposits and stains. In healthy adults, routine scale and polish made little or no difference to gingivitis over two to three years, though it reduced calculus,4 so it supports home cleaning but does not replace it. Our article on scaling and polishing explains what to expect.

How long it takes to get better

Most people notice less bleeding within a week or two of consistent cleaning, and gums look healthier within a few weeks. If there is no improvement, or if bleeding continues, see your dentist, because there may be another cause or a deeper problem.

When gingivitis becomes periodontitis

If plaque and inflammation continue, the infection can spread to the tissues that support the teeth. This is periodontitis. Without treatment, complications can include bad breath, a bad taste, shrinking gums, loose or lost teeth and a dental abscess.1 A person with a history of periodontitis stays at increased risk of it returning and has to be closely monitored.2 Read more in our guide to periodontitis.

Smokers had smaller improvements in pocket depth and attachment after non-surgical treatment of gum disease, so stopping smoking helps your gums too.6

Preventing gingivitis

  • Clean thoroughly every day, and give extra time to the gum line and between the teeth.
  • Keep regular check-ups. The NHS advises these especially if you are pregnant or have type 2 diabetes.1
  • Do not smoke.1
  • Treat rough fillings and crowded areas that trap plaque.
  • Limit sugary snacks, which feed plaque bacteria.

Gingivitis in children and teenagers

Children can have sore, bleeding gums, and the NHS lists it as a reason to see a dentist.1 The same principles apply: gentle, regular brushing, and help with cleaning between teeth. If a child has braces, cleaning takes extra effort. See our page on bleeding gums and our guide to common reasons why gums bleed.

A gum-friendly cleaning routine, step by step

Technique matters as much as time.

  1. Use a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste, and brush for two minutes, twice a day.1
  2. Angle the bristles towards the gum line, so they sweep the edge where the tooth meets the gum.
  3. Use short, gentle strokes, a few teeth at a time, instead of scrubbing across.
  4. Brush the inner surfaces, where plaque is often missed, and clean the tongue.
  5. Clean between the teeth once a day with floss or interdental brushes.1
  6. Spit out the toothpaste and do not rinse straight after, so the fluoride stays on the teeth.1

Do not brush harder to make the gums stop bleeding. The aim is thorough, gentle cleaning, and bleeding should lessen as the gums become healthier.

Gingivitis during pregnancy, with diabetes and with some medicines

Some people are more likely to develop inflamed gums. In pregnancy, hormonal changes can alter the gum response to plaque. With diabetes, blood sugar and gum health affect each other. Some medicines, and a dry mouth, also raise the chance of gum problems. The NHS advises regular check-ups with a dentist and hygienist for people who are pregnant or have type 2 diabetes.1

If any of these apply to you, tell your dentist, keep to your appointments and be especially careful with daily cleaning. Do not stop any medicine yourself. If you are pregnant, inflamed gums are common and treatable, and you do not need to wait until after the baby is born to have them checked.

What a follow-up visit checks

After treatment, a follow-up visit lets the dentist see whether the gums have recovered. They look at how much the gums bleed when touched, how much plaque is present, whether any pockets between the gum and tooth are deeper than they should be and how your cleaning is working. They may show you where plaque remains with a disclosing tablet or a mirror, and adjust your routine.

If the gums are healthy, the focus turns to keeping them that way, with regular check-ups. If they are not, a deeper clean or further assessment may be advised, so keep the appointment even if you feel better.

Checking your own gums at home

A quick check once a week takes a minute. Look in a mirror in good light. Healthy gums are pale pink and firm, and they fit snugly around each tooth with a thin, scalloped edge. Gums that are red, puffy or shiny, or that bleed when you touch them gently, deserve attention. Notice any change in colour, any bad taste and any part of the mouth that is more sore than the rest. Keep a note of what you see, and show it to the dentist if it persists.

Myths and facts

Myth: gingivitis always leads to tooth loss. Not if it is treated. Gingivitis can be reversed, and clinical gum health can be restored.2

Myth: if it does not hurt, it is not serious. Gum disease often causes no pain in its early stages, so bleeding is the signal to act on.

Myth: you only need to see a dentist if there is pain. Regular check-ups find problems early.

Frequently asked questions

Can gingivitis go away on its own?

Sometimes with better cleaning, but if plaque stays, it usually persists or worsens. See your dentist if it does not improve.

Is gingivitis contagious?

Gum disease is not caught like a cold, although the bacteria can pass between people. Cleaning is the main factor.

Do I need antibiotics?

Usually not. The European guideline does not recommend routine antibiotics as an add-on to cleaning for gum disease.5

How often should I see a dentist?

Your dentist will advise, based on your gum health and risk factors.

Can gingivitis go away on its own?

Not usually without better cleaning, because the cause is plaque that stays on the teeth. With careful daily cleaning and a professional clean, gingivitis can be reversed.

Is gingivitis contagious?

Gum disease is not contagious in the way a cold is, though the bacteria in plaque can be shared. What matters for your gums is how well your own teeth are cleaned.

How can I tell whether my gums are healthy?

Healthy gums are pale pink, firm and do not bleed when you brush or clean between your teeth. Red, swollen gums that bleed are a sign of inflammation and should be checked.1

About the author

Portrait of Dr Anupam Sinha

Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics. BDS (2002), KLE Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum. MDS in Orthodontics (2006), SDM College of Dental Sciences, Dharwad. His thesis work won a national research award in 2005, and he holds a certification in aesthetic dentistry. He sees patients at Orion Dental Clinic in Greater Kailash 1, South Delhi. Read the full profile of Dr Anupam Sinha.

Sources

  1. NHS website. Gum disease (patient information). Page review date 20 April 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gum-disease/
  2. Chapple ILC, Mealey BL, Van Dyke TE, Bartold PM, Dommisch H, Eickholz P, et al. Periodontal health and gingival diseases and conditions on an intact and a reduced periodontium: consensus report of workgroup 1 of the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions. Journal of Periodontology, 2018;89(Suppl 1):S74-S84. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29926944/
  3. Worthington HV, MacDonald L, Poklepovic Pericic T, Sambunjak D, Johnson TM, Imai P, Clarkson JE. Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases and dental caries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019;4:CD012018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30968949/
  4. Lamont T, Worthington HV, Clarkson JE, Beirne PV. Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018;12:CD004625. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30590875/
  5. Sanz M, Herrera D, Kebschull M, Chapple I, Jepsen S, Beglundh T, Sculean A, Tonetti MS, on behalf of the EFP Workshop Participants and Methodological Consultants. Treatment of stage I-III periodontitis: the EFP S3 level clinical practice guideline. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2020;47(Suppl 22):4-60. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32383274/
  6. Chang J, Meng HW, Lalla E, Lee CT. The impact of smoking on non-surgical periodontal therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2021;48(1):60-75. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33022758/

Medically reviewed by Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics, on . General information for patients from Orion Dental Clinic, last updated 23 October 2026. It is not advice for one person, so ask a dentist what suits you. To report an error, contact us.