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Gum disease is one of the most common conditions we see at BDS Dental, and one of the most important to address. Left untreated, it can progress from early-stage inflammation to a more serious condition that permanently damages the bone and tissue supporting the teeth — and ultimately leads to tooth loss.
The good news is that gum disease is both preventable and treatable, especially when identified early. Our experienced dental and hygiene team at our Golders Green practice can assess the health of your gums, provide professional treatment, and give you the tools to manage and maintain your gum health at home.
All our clinicians are registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) and our practice is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Gum disease is caused by the build-up of plaque — a sticky film of bacteria that forms continuously on the surfaces of the teeth. If plaque is not removed through regular, effective brushing and flossing, the bacteria within it irritate and infect the surrounding gum tissue. Over time, this can progress through two main stages.
Gingivitis is the earliest and most reversible form of gum disease. At this stage, the gums become inflamed, red, and swollen, and may bleed when you brush. Bleeding gums when brushing is the most common warning sign, and one that should never be ignored or normalised. Gingivitis can usually be resolved through improved home care and a professional cleaning appointment with our hygiene team.
If gingivitis is left untreated, it can develop into periodontitis — a more advanced form of gum disease that affects the deeper tissues and bone supporting the teeth. At this stage, the gums may begin to pull away from the teeth, forming pockets where bacteria accumulate below the gum line. The supporting bone begins to break down, teeth can become loose, and in severe cases, tooth loss may follow.
Periodontitis requires more intensive professional treatment and, once the bone has been lost, it cannot be fully regenerated. This is why early intervention matters.
Gum disease does not always cause obvious pain in its early stages, which means it can be easy to overlook. The following signs are worth taking seriously:
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, we encourage you to book an appointment as soon as possible. The sooner gum disease is assessed and treated, the more straightforward the treatment is likely to be.
Some patients are more susceptible to gum disease than others. Common risk factors include:
The significance of gum disease goes beyond the mouth. There is a substantial and growing body of evidence linking chronic periodontal disease to a number of serious systemic health conditions.
Research has consistently associated untreated periodontitis with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. It is believed that the chronic inflammation associated with gum disease, and the bacteria that can enter the bloodstream from infected gum tissue, play a role in contributing to arterial inflammation.
As noted above, the relationship between gum disease and diabetes is bidirectional — each condition can worsen the other. Pregnant women with periodontitis also have an elevated risk of pre-term birth and low birth weight. And there is emerging evidence for links with respiratory conditions and cognitive decline, though the research in these areas is ongoing.
None of this is intended to alarm — but it does illustrate why maintaining healthy gums is not simply a cosmetic concern. It is part of looking after your overall health.
Treatment for gum disease at BDS Dental is led by our experienced dental hygiene team and overseen by our principal dentists. The appropriate treatment will depend on the severity of the condition at the time of your assessment.
For many patients with early-stage gingivitis, improved home care — guided by personalised advice from our hygienist — is the most important first step. Our hygienists will assess how you are currently cleaning your teeth, identify areas that are being missed, and show you the most effective techniques for your particular teeth and gum condition. Interdental brushes, the correct brushing technique, and understanding which areas need most attention can make a significant difference.
A thorough professional cleaning removes the plaque and hardened tartar that cannot be addressed through brushing alone. Tartar (calculus) — plaque that has mineralised over time — provides a rough surface where further bacteria accumulate and can only be removed using specialist dental instruments. Once removed, the tooth surfaces are polished to reduce the ease with which plaque reattaches.
Where periodontitis has caused pocketing below the gum line, a deeper and more intensive cleaning procedure is required. Root surface debridement involves carefully removing bacterial deposits from the root surfaces of the teeth using specialist instruments, typically carried out under local anaesthetic for comfort. The aim is to create a clean root surface to which healthy gum tissue can reattach and from which bacteria cannot as easily accumulate.
This treatment may require more than one appointment depending on the extent of the condition. Your hygienist will explain the recommended course of treatment and the associated costs before beginning.
Once active gum disease has been treated, regular maintenance appointments are essential to prevent recurrence. Patients with a history of periodontitis typically require more frequent hygiene visits — often every three to four months rather than every six — to keep the condition stable and catch any early signs of relapse.
If you would like to see our dental hygienist for gum disease assessment or treatment, you do not need to see a dentist first. Direct access hygiene appointments are available at BDS Dental, meaning you can book directly with our hygienist team.
Our hygiene team includes Irina Volk (GDC No: 136789) and Aleksandra Taleb (GDC No: 175908), both of whom are experienced in periodontal assessment and treatment. If your hygienist identifies concerns at your appointment that require a dentist’s assessment, they will advise you accordingly.
Standard hygiene appointments start from £126. For more information, please see our direct access hygiene page or get in touch with our team.
BDS Dental is a long-established private practice serving patients across Golders Green, Hampstead, Hampstead Garden Suburb, and the wider North London area. Our hygiene team works closely alongside our principal dentists — Dr. Ian Davis (GDC No: 74993) and Dr. Ellie Bergin (GDC No: 76585) — to ensure that patients with gum disease receive coordinated, consistent care.
We take a straightforward and honest approach: we tell patients what we find, explain what it means, and recommend treatment only when it is genuinely necessary. Many patients with early-stage gum disease need little more than professional cleaning and improved technique at home. We will never overstate the severity of a condition or recommend more treatment than the situation warrants.
No. Bleeding gums are not normal, and they are not caused by brushing too hard. Bleeding is the body’s response to bacterial infection in the gum tissue and is the most common early sign of gingivitis. Many patients assume bleeding gums are something to brush around or ignore, but they are a warning sign that should be addressed. The good news is that at this stage, the condition is usually reversible with prompt professional attention and improved home care.
Gingivitis — the early, reversible stage — can be fully resolved with professional cleaning and improved oral hygiene. Periodontitis, the more advanced form, cannot be cured in the same way, but it can be effectively managed. With appropriate treatment and consistent maintenance, the condition can be stabilised and the risk of further progression significantly reduced. Once bone has been lost, it cannot be regrown, which is why early treatment is so important.
At your appointment, your hygienist or dentist will carry out a periodontal assessment, which involves measuring the depth of the pockets around each tooth using a fine calibrated probe. Healthy pockets are typically 1 to 3 millimetres deep; deeper pockets indicate that gum disease is present and the supporting tissues have been affected. X-rays may also be taken to assess the level of bone support around the teeth. The results of this assessment determine the appropriate treatment plan.
Most patients return to normal activity the same day following root surface debridement. The area may feel tender or sensitive for a few days afterwards, and some mild swelling is possible. Your hygienist will provide specific aftercare advice at the end of your appointment. If you are concerned about the recovery period, please raise this when booking and we can advise based on the likely extent of your treatment.
Yes. Implants can be affected by a condition called peri-implantitis, which is essentially gum disease around an implant. It develops in the same way — through plaque accumulation around the implant site — and can lead to bone loss around the implant if untreated. Maintaining good gum health and attending regular hygiene appointments is particularly important for patients with implants, and it is one of the reasons we emphasise ongoing maintenance for all implant patients.
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