My gums are red and bleeding

The gingiva are the soft tissues that surround the teeth and cover the jawbone. Redness and bleeding usually mean that these tissues are inflamed, often where bacterial plaque has collected along the gumline or between teeth.

If plaque remains, it can harden into calculus, which cannot be removed completely with a toothbrush. Inflammation may then extend below the gumline and damage the attachment between gum, tooth root, and supporting bone.

Continue gentle cleaning rather than stopping because of blood: use a soft-bristled toothbrush at the gumline twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, then clean between every tooth with floss or an interdental brush that fits without force. Spit out the toothpaste after brushing and avoid scrubbing hard or using sharp objects under the gums.

A dentist or hygienist can examine the gum margins, measure spaces around the teeth with a periodontal probe, remove calculus with professional scaling, and check for cavities, a trapped food fragment, or an ill-fitting restoration. Treatment may include improved home cleaning, scaling and root surface debridement, or periodontal care when deeper pockets or bone loss are present.

Book a dental examination when bleeding continues despite careful cleaning, returns repeatedly, or affects several areas. Seek prompt care for marked swelling, pus, severe pain, a loose tooth, facial swelling, fever, or bleeding that does not settle with firm pressure.

Tell the dentist about pregnancy, diabetes, smoking, recent medication changes, or medicines that affect clotting, because these details can change the likely causes and the examination plan. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without the prescriber's advice.

Ask whether the findings fit gingivitis or periodontitis, whether any periodontal pockets or bone changes are present, and whether a dental X-ray is needed. Ask which interdental cleaner fits your teeth, whether calculus or a faulty filling is contributing, and when the gums should be reassessed after treatment.