What is Periodontology (Gum Disease)? Treatments and Symptoms

If you are wondering what periodontology is, the simplest answer is that it is the specialised branch of dentistry dedicated to the health, diseases, and treatment of the tissues surrounding your teeth—namely the gums, jawbone, and the periodontal ligaments that connect the tooth to the bone. Forming the very foundation of your oral health, this field aims to prevent tooth loss, halt receding gums, and give you a healthy, confident smile. Gum disease treatments cover a wide spectrum, ranging from simple early-stage inflammation to severe infections that can erode the jawbone.

• Periodontology deals with diseases of the gums and the bone tissue supporting the teeth.
• Bleeding and swollen gums are the most common early signs of gum disease.
• Early-stage gum inflammation is called "gingivitis", while the advanced stage that leads to bone loss is known as "periodontitis".
• Treatments include professional dental scaling, root planing, and, in advanced cases, gum surgeries.
• Healthy gums are light pink, have a firm texture, and do not bleed during brushing.

What is Periodontology (Gum Disease)?

Literally speaking, periodontology is the science that studies the tissues around the tooth. Our teeth are not embedded directly into the jawbone; instead, they are cushioned by periodontal ligaments acting as shock absorbers, with the gum tissue protecting this entire complex structure. Just as a building with a solid foundation will stand the test of time, healthy gums and jawbones ensure your teeth can remain in your mouth for a lifetime.

Gum diseases are just as common as cavities, but because they rarely cause pain in their early stages, they often go unnoticed until it is too late. In fact, they are the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. Periodontists (gum disease specialists) diagnose these silently progressing conditions and perform the necessary medical and surgical interventions to restore your tissues to health. Furthermore, ensuring the health of the tissues surrounding dental implants (treating peri-implantitis) also falls directly under this specialty.

Causes and Risk Factors for Swollen Gums

Gum diseases rarely stem from a single cause. When the delicate balance inside the mouth is disrupted, the gums react and become inflamed. The most fundamental cause of swollen gums is microbial dental plaque resulting from inadequate oral hygiene. When minerals in your saliva combine with this plaque, they harden into tartar (calculus), which cannot be removed simply by brushing.

Bacterial plaque and tartar irritate the gums, prompting your immune system to send defence cells to the area. This results in redness, swelling, and bleeding. Beyond plaque buildup, several other significant factors put your gum health at risk:

Tobacco Use: Smoking restricts blood flow to the gums. This masks gum bleeding, allowing the disease to progress silently and accelerating the breakdown of the jawbone.

Systemic Diseases: Uncontrolled diabetes, in particular, lowers the body's resistance to infection, causing gum diseases to progress much faster and more severely.

Hormonal Changes: Fluctuating hormone levels during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause make the gums highly sensitive to bacterial plaque. "Pregnancy gingivitis" is a classic example of this.

Medications: Certain blood pressure medications, anti-seizure drugs, and immunosuppressants used after organ transplants can cause abnormal gum overgrowth and swelling as a side effect.

What Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?

Because gum diseases usually progress painlessly, patients often notice them quite late. Symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on the stage of the disease. Healthy gums have a stippled texture similar to an orange peel, are matte, light pink, and wrap tightly around the teeth. Any disruption to this structure is the first warning sign.

In the early stage, known as gingivitis, the most prominent complaint is bleeding gums. You might notice bleeding while brushing, biting into hard foods like an apple, or even spontaneously. The gums become red, swollen, and shiny. At this point, no damage has been done to the bone tissue, and with the right treatment, the condition is completely reversible.

When the disease advances to periodontitis, the situation becomes serious. The gums begin to pull away from the teeth, creating spaces called "periodontal pockets." Bacteria accumulating in these pockets begin to destroy the jawbone. You may notice receding gums, exposed tooth roots, gaps appearing between teeth, or loose teeth. A persistent metallic taste and bad breath are also common. For more detailed information on this, you can read our article on Causes of Persistent Bad Breath and Halitosis Treatment. Exposed roots also cause severe sensitivity to hot and cold; to find solutions for this issue, check out our article Do Cold Drinks Make Your Teeth Ache? Solutions for Sensitivity.

How Are Periodontal Diseases Diagnosed?

Gum diseases are diagnosed through a detailed clinical examination and radiological imaging by your dentist. First, your dentist will observe the colour, shape, and consistency of your gums. Then, using a special blunt-ended instrument with millimetric markings called a "periodontal probe," they will measure the depth of the space (pocket) between your tooth and gum.

In a healthy mouth, this depth is between 1 and 3 millimetres. A measurement of 4 millimetres or more indicates that bone loss has begun and a periodontal pocket has formed. Whether or not the gums bleed during probing is also a crucial indicator of active inflammation.

In addition to the clinical exam, panoramic or periapical X-rays are taken to assess the extent of jawbone loss, the condition of the tooth roots, and the distribution of tartar beneath the gums. Based on all this data, the stage of the disease is determined, and a personalised treatment plan is created for you.

Gum Disease Treatments and Methods

The treatment of gum disease involves different stages depending on the severity of the condition, the extent of bone loss, and the patient's overall health. The primary goals are to eliminate the infection, stop the progression of the disease, and help the patient establish proper oral hygiene habits.

Gingivitis Treatment and Dental Scaling (Detartraj)

For gingivitis, the initial stage of the disease, professional dental scaling is usually sufficient. Using ultrasonic devices and special hand instruments, bacterial plaque and tartar are gently removed from the tooth surface. Afterwards, the teeth are polished to create a smooth surface, making it much harder for bacteria to attach. This procedure does not harm the teeth; rather, it removes the harmful burden weighing them down.

Root Planing (Subgingival Curettage)

If the disease has progressed to periodontitis and tartar has migrated below the gum line onto the root surfaces, a procedure called root planing is performed. Done under local anaesthesia, this treatment involves deeply cleaning inflamed tissues and deposits attached to the roots beneath the gums. The root surface is made smooth like glass, allowing the gums to reattach firmly to the tooth and closing the periodontal pockets.

Flap Operations and Gum Surgeries

In advanced periodontitis cases where pockets are very deep and bone loss is severe, surgical intervention is unavoidable. In a procedure called a flap operation, performed under local anaesthesia, the gum tissue is gently lifted to clean the inflamed tissues under direct vision. If necessary, bone grafts (bone powder) and membranes that promote tissue regeneration are placed in the area to support the eroded bone. The gum is then stitched back into place. Additionally, aesthetic and functional surgeries, such as free gingival grafts (where tissue taken from the palate is added to areas of receding gums), are also part of the periodontist's expertise.

Complications of Untreated Gum Diseases

Gum diseases do not just stay in the mouth; they become a serious focal point of infection that threatens your entire body. The most direct consequence of untreated periodontitis is that even perfectly healthy teeth lose their supporting tissues, become loose, and eventually have to be extracted. Tooth loss impairs chewing function, leading to digestive issues and aesthetic concerns.

Beyond that, the millions of bacteria in periodontal pockets can enter the bloodstream and travel to different parts of the body. Scientific research shows that people with severe gum disease have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. It also makes it harder for diabetic patients to control their blood sugar. In pregnant women, untreated gum infections can increase the risk of premature birth and having a low-birth-weight baby.

When Should You See a Dentist or Seek Emergency Care?

Even if you maintain a regular oral care routine, certain symptoms indicate that professional intervention is absolutely necessary. You should schedule an appointment with a periodontist without delay if you experience one or more of the following warning signs:

• Your gums bleed consistently when brushing, flossing, or biting into something hard,
• You notice visible redness, swelling, or tenderness in your gums,
• Your gums have pulled away from your teeth, making your teeth look longer than before,
• You feel looseness, shifting in your teeth, or a change in the way your teeth fit together (your bite),
• Pus is oozing from between your teeth and gums,
• You have persistent bad breath despite brushing and using mouthwash.

When to call 112: If you experience sudden, severe, throbbing pain in your gums accompanied by facial swelling, a high fever, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, these are signs of a severe acute abscess. This requires immediate medical intervention. Please go to the nearest emergency room or call 112 right away.

Periodontology and Oral Health at BHT CLINIC

At the Dentistry Department of BHT CLINIC İstanbul Tema Hastanesi in Küçükçekmece, your gum health is evaluated using a multidisciplinary approach. With our modern technological infrastructure and team of expert physicians, all periodontal treatments—from routine scaling to the most complex gum surgeries—are performed safely. In our JCI-accredited facilities, where sterilisation and hygiene are maintained at the highest level, providing you with a comfortable and painless treatment experience is our top priority.

Furthermore, our hospital's 24/7 emergency department and fully equipped operating theatres are always at your disposal for acute dental infections or special cases requiring general anaesthesia. To achieve healthy gums and a strong smile, you can visit our appointment page to schedule a detailed examination, or contact us via our call centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you stop bleeding gums?

To permanently stop gum bleeding, the underlying inflammation must be treated. The first step at home is to use a soft-bristled brush with the correct brushing technique and to floss daily. However, if tartar has already formed, you must see a dentist for professional scaling, as brushing alone will not remove it.

Does dental scaling damage the teeth?

No, dental scaling absolutely does not damage tooth enamel. The instruments used during the cleaning do not scratch the tooth; they simply use vibration to dislodge the harmful bacterial plaque and tartar attached to the surface. On the contrary, leaving tartar on your teeth leads to bone loss and eventual tooth loss.

What colour should healthy gums be?

Healthy gums are generally a light pink (coral pink) colour. However, natural pigmentation differences can occur depending on a person's skin tone. The important thing is that the gums are not red, purplish, swollen, or bleeding; healthy gums wrap firmly around the teeth and have a matte appearance.

Do receding gums heal on their own?

Receding gums do not heal on their own, nor can they be fixed with medication. To replace the lost tissue, gum graft surgeries (surgical interventions) performed by periodontists may be necessary. Early diagnosis is critical to stop the recession from progressing further.

Is swollen gums during pregnancy normal?

During pregnancy, increased levels of oestrogen and progesterone hormones make the gums much more sensitive to bacterial plaque. Because of this, gum swelling and bleeding, known as "pregnancy gingivitis," are very common. While considered a normal reaction to hormonal changes, it is highly recommended to have regular dental check-ups and professional scaling during safe periods of the pregnancy to prevent the infection from worsening.

This article is for informational purposes only; please consult your physician or dentist for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.