In order to prevent gum disease, it’s important to know what healthy gums look like. Our Surrey dentists describe some of the ways that can tell the difference between healthy gums and unhealthy ones based on appearance.
Colour
Most people have pink gums, but healthy gums can actually come in quite a wide range of colours. Some can be very light pink, and others can be more toward brown or even black. As you might expect, darker coloured gums are more common in individuals with darker skin tones.
But there are some colours that may indicate gum disease. Gums that are bright red, white or unnaturally black may indicate that gum disease is present. In some cases, darker coloured gums can mean disease is present, so if your gums have perceptibly changed colour, you should definitely get them checked out by your dentist.
Texture
Healthy gums should be firm to the touch, and you shouldn't be able to move them around with your finger. They also fit snugly around your teeth.
Unhealthy gums, on the other hand, often look and feel puffy and are noticeably malleable compared to healthy gums. They may feel soft and somewhat tender to the touch, and you may notice that they begin to pull back away from the teeth (this is called gum recession).
Healthy gums do not bleed during brushing or flossing. If your gums bleed when you brush and floss, it could be a sign of gum disease.