Bleeding gums are not a normal finding

Dentistry – and the field of periodontology in particular – is advancing quickly. Our editorial team sifts through the wealth of information and gathers here what is new and worth knowing on the subject:

11.08.2026

Bleeding gums are not a normal finding

Healthy gums do not bleed – not when brushing, not when flossing, not when biting. If they bleed, there is inflammation. At first that is gingivitis, and gingivitis is fully reversible.

The most common mistake is understandable and wrong: sparing the bleeding spot. It needs the opposite. The bleeding is a consequence of the inflammation, not of the brushing; it stops as soon as the inflammation subsides – usually within one to two weeks.

If it persists longer, the periodontium should be examined. Gingivitis can turn into periodontitis, and those consequences are no longer reversible: lost bone does not grow back by itself.

Two weeks is a good yardstick. If it is still bleeding after that, make an appointment.

← All news