Your gums are bleeding. Here is what that means.

Most people notice it when they spit after brushing. A little pink in the sink. They assume they brushed too hard and move on. That is the most common response to bleeding gums, and it is usually wrong.

Healthy gums do not bleed from brushing. Bleeding is a sign that the tissue is inflamed. The question is how far along the inflammation is and whether it is still reversible.

The earlier stage is gingivitis: gums that are red, swollen, and bleed easily. At this point, there is usually no bone loss and no permanent damage. The American Academy of Periodontology describes gingivitis as reversible with professional treatment and consistent home care. That is actually good news if you catch it here.

The problem is that gingivitis rarely announces itself with pain. Gum disease is often silent in its early stages. Bleeding is one of the few visible signals.

Left untreated, gingivitis advances. Plaque spreads below the gum line. The bacteria in plaque produce toxins that trigger a chronic inflammatory response, and the body begins breaking down the tissue and bone that hold the teeth in place. Pockets form between the teeth and gums, deepen, and collect more bacteria. At that point the disease is classified as periodontitis, and the damage to bone is not reversible in the same way.

Other signs worth paying attention to: gums pulling away from the teeth, teeth that look longer than they used to, persistent bad breath, or a tooth that feels loose. Any of those alongside bleeding gums moves the picture further along the spectrum.

A full periodontal evaluation takes about 20 minutes and gives a clear answer on where things stand. Pocket depths, bone levels on X-rays, tissue health across the full mouth. If it is gingivitis, treatment is straightforward. If it has progressed further, gum disease treatment scales and addresses what is actually happening rather than masking the symptom.

The pink in the sink is worth taking seriously. It usually means the window to reverse things easily is still open. (310) 903-7674. New patients are welcome.

Dr. Sharyar Baradaran, DDS, MS is a periodontist in Beverly Hills and a member of the American Academy of Periodontology. He has been in practice for more than 32 years.