Gum assessment
We record which sites bleed on gentle probing and measure the depth of the gum crevice at each tooth to confirm the inflammation has not yet involved the bone beneath.
About this treatmentDental condition · Wimpole Street, Marylebone
Gingivitis: the reversible first stage of gum disease
Gingivitis is inflammation confined to the gum itself. Plaque left along the margin where tooth meets gum releases toxins, the body responds by sending blood and immune cells to the area, and the gum becomes red, swollen and quick to bleed. The important word is confined: at this stage the bone and the fibres that anchor the tooth are untouched, and if the plaque is removed and kept away the gum returns to normal within a week or two. That is what separates gingivitis from periodontitis, its successor, where the damage is lasting. Roughly half of adults have some gingivitis at any moment, most of them unaware, because it does not hurt. Bleeding when brushing is the sign people notice, and a great many respond by brushing more gently, which is exactly the wrong reaction. Our Wimpole Street hygienists spend much of their day showing patients how to reverse gingivitis and how to stop it coming back.
Recognising it
How it usually feels
Pink on the toothbrush or in the sink
Healthy gum does not bleed on normal brushing; inflamed gum bleeds at the slightest touch.
Gum margins that are red rather than pale pink
Increased blood flow to the inflamed tissue changes the colour.
Puffy or rounded gum between the teeth
Swelling replaces the normal knife-edge shape of the papillae.
Tenderness when flossing
Inflamed tissue is sensitive to pressure, though gingivitis is rarely painful.
Breath that others notice
Bacteria in the inflamed margin produce sulphur compounds.
Gums that look shiny or smooth
Swelling stretches the surface and loses the normal stippled texture.
Behind the symptoms
What's going on
- 01
Plaque left at the gum line
Nearly all gingivitis comes down to this. Brushing that skims the teeth but misses the junction with the gum, and skipping cleaning between the teeth, leaves a band of bacteria exactly where the tissue is most vulnerable. Within days the gum responds.
- 02
Tartar acting as a plaque trap
Plaque that stays for more than a couple of days starts to calcify into tartar, which cannot be brushed off. Its rough surface then harbours more plaque, and the gum beneath stays inflamed until a hygienist removes it.
- 03
Hormonal changes
Pregnancy, puberty, the menstrual cycle and some contraceptives alter how the gum reacts to plaque, so a level of bacteria that was tolerated before now produces marked inflammation. Pregnancy gingivitis typically peaks in the second trimester.
- 04
Smoking and vaping
Nicotine narrows the blood vessels in the gum, which can actually reduce bleeding and hide the inflammation, while at the same time weakening the immune response to plaque. Smokers’ gum disease tends to be discovered later and to be more advanced.
- 05
Medication and medical conditions
Some blood pressure drugs, anti-epileptics and immunosuppressants cause gum overgrowth that is hard to keep clean. Diabetes, particularly when poorly controlled, exaggerates the inflammatory response, and a dry mouth from any cause removes saliva’s protective effect.
- 06
Things that make cleaning harder
Crowded teeth, overhanging fillings, ill-fitting crowns, partial dentures and orthodontic appliances all create ledges and corners where plaque lodges and the brush does not reach. The gingivitis appears precisely at those points.
Before your appointment
What you can do today
- Brush twice daily for two minutes with the bristles angled into the gum margin, and keep brushing the areas that bleed rather than avoiding them.
- Clean between every tooth once a day with interdental brushes sized to fit or with floss; this is where most gingivitis lives.
- Expect bleeding to continue for a week or so as you clean more thoroughly, then to stop; if it does not, book in.
- An electric brush with a pressure sensor helps if you tend to scrub; hard brushing damages gum without removing more plaque.
- Use a fluoride toothpaste; an antiseptic mouthwash can help short term but is no substitute for mechanical cleaning.
- If you smoke or vape, be aware that bleeding may be masked and inflammation can be worse than it looks.
These are holding measures, not a substitute for an examination. Use any pain relief exactly as directed on the pack and check with a pharmacist if you take other medicines.
In the chair
How we treat it at Wimpole Street
Professional cleaning
The hygienist removes tartar and plaque from above and just below the gum line, then polishes so the surfaces are smooth and plaque struggles to reattach.
About this treatmentAirflow polishing
A fine jet of warm water, air and powder clears staining and biofilm from around the gum margin comfortably, and reaches the areas between teeth that hand instruments find awkward.
About this treatmentPersonalised technique coaching
We show you, on your own teeth, exactly where plaque is being left and which brush or interdental size suits each gap. This is what makes the improvement last.
About this treatmentCorrecting plaque traps
Overhanging filling edges are smoothed or replaced, and poorly fitting restorations are adjusted so that the gum around them can heal.
About this treatmentReview and recall
A check a few weeks later confirms the bleeding has resolved, and a hygiene interval, usually six months, is set to keep it that way.
About this treatmentFees
Costs to expect
A hygiene appointment at Wimpole Street is from £89, or £142 with Airflow polishing, and for uncomplicated gingivitis one visit plus improved home care is usually all that is needed. A dental examination with full gum screening is expected to be £95.
If screening shows the inflammation has already progressed into the supporting bone, that is periodontitis rather than gingivitis and is treated differently, with periodontal therapy from £850 quoted after assessment. Catching it at the gingivitis stage is considerably cheaper as well as fully reversible, which is the practical argument for not ignoring bleeding gums.
Figures are indicative prices for Wimpole Street and are confirmed in a written plan once a dentist has examined you. Fees match our South Kensington and St Paul's clinics.
Don't wait if
When to see a dentist
- Bleeding continues after two weeks of thorough brushing and interdental cleaning.
- Gums are red, swollen or tender in more than one area.
- You are pregnant and your gums have started bleeding.
- You have noticed your breath has changed.
- A gum has grown over part of a tooth or looks lumpy.
- You smoke and have not had a gum check in the past year.
FAQ
Common questions
No. Bleeding is the sign that plaque has been left there, and easing off lets it stay. Keep brushing the area gently but thoroughly, twice a day, and add interdental cleaning. In most people the bleeding stops within seven to fourteen days as the inflammation subsides.
You generally cannot from the outside, which is why the probing measurements matter. Gingivitis shows bleeding with shallow crevices and no bone loss on X-ray. Periodontitis shows deeper pockets, sometimes recession or loosening, and bone loss. A hygienist or dentist can tell you in a few minutes.
Pregnancy hormones make the gum more reactive to plaque, so bleeding often increases from the second month onwards even in women whose cleaning has not changed. It is still plaque-driven, so more careful cleaning and a hygiene visit help, and dental treatment during pregnancy is safe and encouraged.
It does not. Mouthwash reaches the surface of plaque but does not remove the film itself, particularly between the teeth where gingivitis is worst. Antiseptic rinses can be useful for a short period during treatment; long-term they can stain teeth and disturb the mouth’s normal bacteria.
Hard brushing damages gum and enamel but does not necessarily remove plaque from the margin, particularly if the bristles are not angled towards the gum. Technique and reaching between the teeth matter far more than force. A hygienist can show you the difference in a single session.
Marylebone, W1
Wimpole Street opens 1 October 2026
Leave your details and we will be in touch when the Marylebone diary opens. If the problem cannot wait, the same clinicians are already seeing patients in South Kensington and at St Paul's.
Related conditions
Opening 1 October 2026
Wimpole Street is not yet seeing patients. Until then, please book or call our South Kensington clinic on 020 7183 2362 or our St Paul's clinic on 020 7183 3709. Questions about the new clinic: wimpolestreet@md.co.uk.
Until we open
Need an appointment before 1 October 2026?
The same clinical team already works from two other Medical & Dental clinics. Book at either one now and, if you prefer, move your ongoing care to Wimpole Street once the doors open.
South Kensington
- 20 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DL
- Open seven days a week
- 020 7183 2362
St Paul's, City of London
- 5 Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7AQ
- Open Monday to Friday
- 020 7183 3709
