Healthy gums should be pink, firm and keep your teeth securely in place. Your gums should not bleed when you touch or brush them.
Gum disease is not always painful and you may be unaware you have it.
It's important to have regular dental check-ups.
Gum disease is not always painful and you may be unaware you have it.
The initial symptoms of gum disease can include:
This stage of gum disease is called gingivitis.
If gingivitis is untreated, the tissues and bone that support the teeth can also become affected. This is known as periodontitis, or periodontal disease.
Symptoms of periodontitis can include:
In rare cases, a condition called acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) can develop suddenly.
The symptoms of ANUG are usually more severe than those of gum disease and can include:
You should make an appointment to see your dentist if you think you may have gum disease or ANUG.
If you do not currently have a dentist, search for a dentist near you.
Find out more about treating gum disease
Page last reviewed: Sat Feb 2022 Next review due: Wed Feb 2020