Gingivitis and periodontitis are not the same condition. Knowing which stage you are at changes everything about your treatment, prognosis, and what you can do to protect your teeth.
A side-by-side comparison to help you understand where you might stand.
Not sure if it's gingivitis or periodontitis? A check-up can tell you for certain.
Book via WhatsAppGingivitis is the earliest and mildest form of gum disease. It occurs when plaque — a sticky biofilm of bacteria — accumulates along the gumline and triggers an inflammatory response in your gum tissue. At this stage, only the gums (gingiva) are affected. The underlying bone and connective tissue that anchor your teeth remain intact and undamaged.
The primary cause is plaque accumulation due to inadequate oral hygiene. When plaque is not removed through daily brushing and flossing, it hardens into calculus (tarite) within 24–72 hours. Calculus cannot be removed by brushing alone and provides a rough surface for more bacteria to adhere to, creating a cycle of inflammation.
Contributing factors include:
Important: Gingivitis is often painless, which is why many people do not realise they have it. The absence of pain does not mean your gums are healthy.
The good news about gingivitis is that it is 100% reversible. With professional scaling to remove plaque and calculus, followed by consistent daily brushing (twice daily with a soft brush) and flossing, your gums can return to full health within 2–3 weeks. No permanent damage occurs at this stage.
At Trust Dental, a professional scaling and polishing visit typically takes 30–45 minutes and starts from $85 (CHAS subsidised). We will also show you the correct brushing and flossing techniques to keep plaque at bay between visits.
When gingivitis is left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis. At this stage, the inflammation extends beyond the gums into the deeper structures — the periodontal ligament and the alveolar bone that holds your teeth in their sockets. Unlike gingivitis, the damage caused by periodontitis is irreversible. Bone that has been destroyed does not grow back on its own.
Periodontitis is classified by severity:
Pocket depth: 4–5 mm
Bone loss: Up to 15–20% of supporting bone around affected teeth
At this stage, the infection has begun to erode the bone, creating deeper pockets between the teeth and gums. These pockets trap more bacteria and are impossible to clean with a toothbrush alone. You may notice:
Treatment: Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) — a thorough cleaning below the gumline to remove bacteria, plaque, and calculus from the root surfaces. This is typically done under local anaesthesia over 2–4 visits.
Pocket depth: 5–7 mm
Bone loss: 20–50% of supporting bone
More significant bone destruction has occurred. The damage is clearly visible on dental X-rays. Symptoms become more noticeable:
Treatment: Deep cleaning with more frequent maintenance visits (every 3–4 months). Some areas may require surgical access for thorough cleaning. Antibiotics may be prescribed for active infections.
Pocket depth: 7+ mm
Bone loss: More than 50% of supporting bone
At this stage, the teeth have lost the majority of their bone support. Without intervention, tooth loss is likely:
Treatment: Combination approach — deep cleaning, periodontal surgery (flap surgery to access deep pockets), possible bone grafting, and in some cases extraction of teeth that cannot be saved, followed by replacement with implants or dentures.
Advanced periodontitis represents the end stage of gum disease where the supporting structures of the teeth have been so severely damaged that tooth loss becomes inevitable for some or all teeth. At this point, the priority shifts to saving as many teeth as possible while planning for replacement of teeth that cannot be saved.
The bone that once held your teeth firmly in place has been largely destroyed. The remaining teeth may be so loose they can be moved by finger pressure. Eating becomes difficult and painful. The infection is deep-seated and chronic, with bacteria colonising areas that are virtually impossible to reach with conventional cleaning.
Yes. Even at this late stage, aggressive treatment can halt further progression and stabilise remaining teeth. The key is committing to the full treatment plan and attending all maintenance appointments. Many patients with advanced periodontitis who receive proper treatment can keep their remaining teeth for decades longer than they otherwise would.
Gingivitis is reversible with the right treatment. The sooner you start, the better.
Book a ConsultationOnly a dental professional can accurately diagnose your gum disease stage. At Trust Dental, our assessment includes:
A thin, blunt-ended probe is gently inserted between your tooth and gum to measure pocket depth. This is done at six points around every tooth. Healthy sulcus depth is 1–3 mm. Pockets of 4 mm or more indicate periodontitis. The deeper the pocket, the more advanced the disease. Bleeding during probing is recorded as an indicator of active inflammation.
X-rays reveal bone levels that cannot be seen clinically. In healthy individuals, bone sits close to the crown of the tooth. In periodontitis, X-rays show bone loss — either horizontal (even bone reduction) or vertical (angular defects around specific teeth). The pattern and extent of bone loss helps determine severity and guide treatment planning.
Your dentist will assess gum colour, texture, and shape. Healthy gums are pale pink, firm, and scalloped around each tooth. Diseased gums are red, swollen, shiny, and may bleed spontaneously. We also check for:
We evaluate your individual risk factors including smoking status, diabetes control, family history, medications, and stress levels. This helps predict how aggressively your disease may progress and informs the maintenance schedule we recommend.
Treatment is straightforward and highly effective:
With proper treatment and home care, gingivitis resolves completely within 2–3 weeks. Regular 6-monthly scaling visits prevent recurrence.
Treatment is more involved and requires ongoing commitment:
When deep cleaning alone is insufficient (pockets remain deep after non-surgical treatment):
We treat all stages of gum disease with a gentle, thorough approach.
WhatsApp UsAbsolutely. Gum disease is one of the most preventable chronic conditions. The following practices, applied consistently, will protect your gums throughout your life:
CHAS and Medisave accepted. No hidden fees — ever.
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease affecting only the gum tissue. It causes redness, swelling, and bleeding but no permanent damage — it is fully reversible. Periodontitis is the advanced stage where the infection has spread deeper, destroying the bone and connective tissue supporting your teeth. This damage is permanent, though the disease can be managed and stabilised with proper treatment.
Periodontitis cannot be "cured" in the sense of reversing bone loss that has already occurred. However, it can be effectively controlled and stabilised through professional deep cleaning, possible surgery, excellent home care, and regular maintenance visits. Many patients live with well-managed periodontitis for decades without losing additional teeth. In some cases, bone grafting can regenerate small amounts of lost bone.
Only a dentist can accurately determine your stage through clinical examination including periodontal probing (measuring pocket depths), X-rays (assessing bone levels), and checking for tooth mobility. As a general guide: if your gums bleed but teeth feel firm, you likely have gingivitis. If you also notice receding gums, loose teeth, or persistent bad breath, periodontitis is more likely. A full periodontal assessment at Trust Dental takes about 30 minutes.
Gingivitis itself does not cause permanent damage and is fully reversible. However, it should be taken seriously because it is the precursor to periodontitis. Left untreated, gingivitis will progress to periodontitis in many people, which causes irreversible bone loss and can lead to tooth loss. Think of gingivitis as your body's warning signal — your gums are telling you they need attention before real damage occurs.
The major risk factors include: smoking (the biggest modifiable risk factor), poorly controlled diabetes, genetic predisposition, chronic stress, certain medications that reduce saliva flow, hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause), teeth grinding, poor nutrition, and inconsistent oral hygiene. Having multiple risk factors significantly increases your chance of rapid progression from gingivitis to periodontitis.
The timeline varies greatly between individuals — from months to years. Smokers, diabetics, and those with genetic susceptibility may progress much faster. Some people with strong immune responses may have gingivitis for years without progression. However, there is no reliable way to predict when progression will occur, which is why prompt treatment of gingivitis is always recommended.
Yes, the bacteria that cause gum disease can be transmitted through saliva — through kissing, sharing utensils, or from parent to child. However, having the bacteria does not guarantee you will develop disease. Your immune system, oral hygiene habits, and other risk factors determine whether disease develops. If a family member has gum disease, be extra diligent with your oral hygiene and get regular check-ups.
Yes, significantly. Research suggests up to 30% of the population may be genetically predisposed to gum disease. These individuals can develop more severe periodontitis even with good oral hygiene. If your parents or siblings have had serious gum disease or lost teeth due to periodontal problems, inform your dentist and consider more frequent monitoring and cleanings.
Almost always, periodontitis is preceded by gingivitis. However, the gingivitis phase may have been so mild or brief that it went unnoticed. In rare cases of aggressive periodontitis (more common in younger patients), the disease can progress rapidly with minimal visible gum inflammation, making it seem like gingivitis was skipped. This is why regular dental check-ups are important even when you have no symptoms.
For gingivitis: every 6 months is usually sufficient. For mild to moderate periodontitis: every 3–4 months for maintenance cleanings. For advanced or difficult-to-control periodontitis: every 2–3 months. These maintenance visits are critical — skipping them allows bacteria to re-colonise deep pockets and disease to reactivate. Your dentist at Trust Dental will recommend a personalised schedule based on your specific needs.
Untreated periodontitis progressively destroys supporting bone, leading to deeper pockets, more bone loss, gum recession, tooth mobility, tooth shifting, difficulty chewing, abscesses, and eventually tooth loss. Beyond your mouth, it is also associated with increased risk of heart disease, poorly controlled diabetes, respiratory infections, and other systemic health problems. Early treatment is always more effective, less invasive, and less costly than managing advanced disease.
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The earlier gum disease is caught, the simpler and more effective the treatment. If your gums bleed, look red, or feel swollen, don't wait — a 30-minute assessment can give you clarity and a clear plan forward.