Why the two-week mark matters

Gingivitis, the early reversible stage of gum disease, responds to home care. Gums that bleed because plaque has been sitting on them for a while will usually calm down within one to two weeks of gentle, consistent brushing and daily flossing.

If they do not, the bacteria have likely settled into places a toothbrush and floss cannot clear: hardened tartar below the gumline or pockets that have deepened. No amount of better technique removes tartar. That takes instruments.

What else can keep gums bleeding

None of these are things you can fix with a new toothbrush. All of them change what Frank and I recommend.

• Tartar below the gumline that shields bacteria from your brush
• Pockets deeper than 3 mm, where floss cannot reach the bottom
• Blood thinners or certain other medications
• Hormonal shifts, including pregnancy
• Diabetes or other conditions that change how gums respond
• Breathing through your mouth at night, which dries the gum tissue

What the next visit looks like

Frank, our hygienist, measures the pocket depth around every tooth and reads the numbers aloud. Healthy is one to three millimeters. He checks for tartar under the gum and notes where bleeding happens on probing.

If pockets are shallow and tartar is the issue, a thorough cleaning usually resolves it. If pockets are deeper and bone has been affected, a deep cleaning with numbing treats the infection below the gumline, followed by maintenance cleanings every three to four months. For advanced cases, our periodontist Dr. Shah sees patients here at mend.

What to keep doing in the meantime

Keep brushing and flossing gently. Bleeding is not a reason to back off; it is inflammation, not injury. Do not switch to a hard brush or scrub harder. Call us, tell us how long it has been, and we will get you measured.