Your dentist or hygienist diagnoses gum disease during a periodontal exam, which should be part of every regular checkup.
We gently use a small instrument called a periodontal probe to measure the sulcus, the pocket between each tooth and the gum. A healthy pocket is 3 millimeters or less and doesn’t bleed. Pockets usually get deeper as gum disease progresses.
Using pocket depth, bleeding, inflammation and tooth mobility, we’ll place your gum health in one of these stages:
Gingivitis
The first stage. Plaque toxins make the gums tender, inflamed and likely to bleed.
Periodontitis
Plaque hardens into tartar, gums pull away from the teeth, and deeper pockets fill with bacteria and pus. Gums bleed easily. There may be slight to moderate bone loss.
Advanced periodontitis
Gums, bone and ligament keep breaking down and teeth lose support. Without treatment they become very loose and may be lost. Moderate to severe bone loss may be present.