When to seek medical advice
If your gums are swollen, bleed easily and are dusky red rather than
pink in color, see your dentist. In early stages of gingivitis, your
gums are tender rather than painful. The earlier you see your dentist,
the better your chances are of getting your gums healthy again and
preventing the progression of gingivitis to the more serious
periodontitis.
Screening and diagnosis
The key to determining the health of your gums is the depth of the
groove between your gums and your teeth (gingival sulcus). To measure
the depth of this groove, your dentist inserts a metal probe beneath
your gum until he or she feels a slight resistance.
To screen for gum disease, your dentist measures your sulcus depth at
multiple sites inside your mouth. A depth of 2 or 3 millimeters (mm) —
about one-eighth of an inch — indicates a healthy gum. A depth beyond 3
mm means a pocket has formed between your tooth and gum. The deeper the
pocket, the more serious your gum disease.
Dental X-rays also may help your dentist gauge the health of your gums
by revealing bone loss.
