How healthy gums should look
Healthy gums usually look pink or naturally pigmented, fit closely around the teeth, and do not bleed with gentle brushing or flossing.
How can you tell whether your gums look healthy?
Healthy gums usually look pink or naturally pigmented, fit closely around the teeth, and do not bleed with gentle brushing or flossing.
What changes in gum appearance may indicate inflammation?
Redness, puffiness, tenderness, bleeding, recession, or a change in the normal gum contour can reflect plaque-related inflammation or periodontal disease. A colour change alone is not enough to diagnose a problem because natural pigmentation varies.
How should you clean along the gumline each day?
Brush along the gumline with a soft toothbrush and clean between teeth daily. Examine the gums in good light for changes, but do not press or probe them because that can cause bleeding and irritation.
When should changes in your gums be examined?
Book a dental examination if bleeding, swelling, persistent bad breath, recession, pus, sensitivity, or tooth looseness develops. A sore, lump, or colour change that persists also needs assessment.
What can the dentist learn from your gum measurements?
Ask how your gum measurements and bleeding points compare with healthy tissue, whether plaque or calculus is present, and which home-care technique suits your teeth and gum shape.
Frequently asked questions
Can this problem have more than one cause?
Redness, puffiness, tenderness, bleeding, recession, or a change in the normal gum contour can reflect plaque-related inflammation or periodontal disease. A colour change alone is not enough to diagnose a problem because natural pigmentation varies.
What should I do while arranging care?
Brush along the gumline with a soft toothbrush and clean between teeth daily. Examine the gums in good light for changes, but do not press or probe them because that can cause bleeding and irritation.
Who wrote this page
This library is published by Dental Nation, a licensed dental group practising in the United Arab Emirates. Pages are written and overseen by the same clinical team that treats patients in our clinics, and are held to a fixed editorial standard for safety and accuracy.
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and cannot replace an examination. Anything urgent — facial swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or severe pain — needs a dentist or emergency care now.