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Gum disease

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) says "Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection that causes inflammation of the tissues that hold your teeth in place." This page sorts out the two types the CDC names, the warning signs the sources list, who diagnoses and treats it, and what one research summary says about extra oral hygiene advice.

Education, not a dental practice. Florida Smile Works does not examine, diagnose, or treat.

Short answer

The CDC says "Gingivitis is a type of gum disease that involves inflammation of the gums." It says "Periodontitis, which also involves bone loss around teeth, is an irreversible condition that can be slowed down and managed with professional treatment."

The American Dental Association's consumer site, MouthHealthy, says "Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth."

Warning signs

NIDCR says "Gum disease starts with swollen, red, and bleeding gums. If left untreated, it can spread to the bones supporting the teeth, making it painful to chew. In the worst cases, teeth may become loose or need to be removed."

The CDC lists these signs:

The CDC says "Gum disease can often become serious before a person notices that they have symptoms." MouthHealthy says "Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it."

Who diagnoses and treats it

NIDCR says "A dentist or dental hygienist will perform tests to diagnose gum disease."

On treatment, NIDCR says "The main goal of treatment is to control the infection." MouthHealthy says "Treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed."

NIDCR describes what treatment can involve. "People with periodontal disease will need to receive treatment from a dentist or dental hygienist." The dentist "may conduct “scaling and root planing,”" which NIDCR describes as "a deep cleaning of the affected tooth." NIDCR adds: "In advanced cases of gum disease, surgical treatment may be required."

NIDCR also says "Your dental professional may also refer you to a periodontist, a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease...".

NIDCR also says "Early gum disease, caused by plaque buildup, can often be reversed by daily brushing and flossing." That is NIDCR's statement in general. It is not a statement about any one person's mouth. The ordinary care steps are on How smile work gets done.

What the research shows

A Cochrane Oral Health summary, dated 3 February 2026 and current to 3 July 2024, looked at behavioural approaches to oral hygiene advice for adults with gum disease. It says "Self‐care is very important for people living with gum disease, and the success of any dental treatment depends on this."

On whether extra advice approaches help, the summary is cautious: "we are very uncertain whether behavioural approaches to oral hygiene advice have any important benefits when compared to usual advice alone." It adds: "We have very low confidence in the evidence in this review."

That is a statement about how much this one review can show.

What a Florida reader should know

NIDCR and the CDC are U.S. federal sources, MouthHealthy is from the American Dental Association, and Cochrane Oral Health is an international review group. None of them is Florida law. A licensed Florida dentist is the person to ask about a particular mouth. Choose a dentist covers how to check a license.

What to do next

  1. Read the NIDCR page on gum disease.
  2. Read the CDC page on periodontal (gum) disease.
  3. Read the MouthHealthy page on gum disease.
  4. Read the Cochrane Oral Health summary.
  5. Bring the questions below to a licensed Florida dentist. See Choose a dentist.

Questions worth asking a licensed dentist

Sources