What Are the Stages of Gum Disease?

May 9, 2023

Periodontal disease, or gum disease, typically happens over time and consists of different stages. Since it progresses, catching gum disease early gives you a better chance to minimize the impact of the disease and save your smile.

But what are the stages of gum disease, and how can you identify them? The following four stages of periodontal disease will help you better understand how this condition progresses and how it can impact your smile.

Stage One: Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease that involves inflammation. Your gums may appear red, swollen, tender, or even bleed during brushing or flossing [1]. You may also notice you have bad breath that doesn’t go away.

Typically, gingivitis is reversed with a deep cleaning with your dentist in a procedure called a root planing and scaling. This stage of gum disease requires minimal intervention and is the easiest to treat, but it still should not be ignored, as it can advance to more severe stages.

Stage Two: Early Periodontitis

The second stage of gum disease involves all the symptoms of gingivitis, but in this stage, gum recession may begin. Gum recession happens when the gum tissue begins to pull back from the teeth, which can expose tooth roots and lead to an infection in the space between the teeth and gums.

You may notice that your teeth look longer due to receding gums or are more sensitive [2]. This stage of periodontal disease can still be reversed with minimal intervention, especially if gum recession is not severe.

Stage Three: Moderate Periodontitis

Gum recession continues in stage three of gum disease, which is sometimes referred to as moderate periodontitis. Gum recession may cause severe tooth sensitivity while you may also experience bone loss as a result of the infection, which can cause loose teeth.

In moderate periodontitis, a deep cleaning, antibiotic therapy, and gum grafts may be necessary to restore your smile [3]. At this stage, gum disease is more challenging to reverse, and the risk for tooth loss is higher.

Stage Four: Advanced Periodontitis

Advanced gum disease is the final stage in which you may have already lost teeth or have a severe infection that causes abscesses in the gum tissue. In advanced periodontitis, the treatment may be surgical, non-surgical, or both.

Your dentist’s primary goal will be to remove the bacteria, plaque, and infection that is causing gum disease and attempt to restore the gum tissue—whether through surgery such as pocket reduction procedures or gum grafts—to prevent it from coming back [4]. Antibiotic therapy is typically necessary as well.

Taking care of your teeth and gums at home along with keeping your regular dental checkups are a crucial part of any gum disease treatment plan, whether you have gingivitis or advanced periodontitis.

Don’t Ignore Gum Disease

Ignoring any of the stages of gum disease can have a significant impact on your smile. Remember, the sooner you catch and treat gum disease, the more minimal your treatment will be. It’s always easier to reverse gum disease in its earlier stages than in its latter ones, so don’t put off that next checkup with your dentist!