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Pink in the sink is common, but it is not normal. Bleeding gums are the earliest sign of gingivitis, and gingivitis is completely reversible.
Why gums bleed
Plaque left at the gumline irritates the tissue. Inflamed gums bleed easily when brushed or flossed.
What to do
Keep brushing and flossing gently. It feels counter-intuitive, but cleaning the area is what calms it down. Most cases settle within two weeks.
If bleeding lasts longer than two weeks, or your gums look red and puffy, book a check.
When it is more serious
Loose teeth, bad breath that will not go away or gums pulling back from teeth can mean periodontitis. We can treat it with a deep clean and regular maintenance.
Written by
Dr. Thomas Hale
Periodontist at Omnira Dental. Thomas has treated gum disease for 22 years and leads our deep-cleaning and gum-graft programme.
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