Emergency dental symptoms
Bleeding gums: when it is gum disease, an injury or an emergency
Healthy gums do not bleed, not even when you floss. A little pink in the sink is the earliest sign of gum disease. Bleeding that pours, or will not stop, is a different problem altogether.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, Principal Dentist · GDC 301711 · Last reviewed April 2026
Why gums bleed
Leave plaque along the gum line for a few days and the gum reacts to the bacteria the way skin reacts to a splinter: the blood vessels in it widen and become leaky, and the thin surface lining breaks down. From then on the lightest touch of a brush makes it bleed. The bleeding is the gum’s inflammation showing itself, not the toothbrush cutting it, which is why the common response, brushing that bit more gently, makes it worse. Clean the plaque away properly for two weeks and the vessels tighten, the lining heals and the bleeding stops.
Gingivitis.
Periodontitis.
Hormones.
New flossing or a new electric brush.
An injury.
Blood-thinning medicines.
Necrotising gum disease.
Something in the blood.
Bleeding that is a dental emergency
A routine appointment.
Same day.
A&E.
Stopping the bleeding at home
For a cut, a knock or a socket: sit upright, fold a piece of damp gauze or a clean handkerchief, put it directly on the bleeding point and bite or press firmly for 20 to 30 minutes without lifting it to look. A cold compress on the outside helps. Do not rinse for 24 hours, and no hot drinks, alcohol or smoking. If it is still bleeding after a second round, ring us. If you are on blood thinners, do not stop taking them without speaking to your doctor; tell us instead.
For gums that bleed when you brush, the treatment is the opposite of what instinct suggests: brush more, not less. Twice a day, a soft or electric brush angled into the gum line in small circles, and once a day clean between the teeth with interdental brushes or floss. It bleeds more for a few days, then less, and in most people it has stopped within two weeks. Warm salt water soothes sore gums, and a week of chlorhexidine mouthwash helps if they are too painful to brush (it stains, so not for months). For a painkiller use paracetamol rather than aspirin, which makes bleeding worse.
Examining bleeding gums at the practice
For an urgent problem the emergency examination is £30 including X-rays. We look at the colour and shape of the gums and check for ulcers, swelling and pus. A fine blunt probe is run gently around every tooth to measure the gap between gum and tooth in millimetres: up to three is healthy, four or more is a pocket. Bleeding on probing is recorded too, because it is the most reliable sign of active disease. We note plaque and tartar, take X-rays to see the bone level around the roots, and go through your medicines. A wound is cleaned, checked for anything left in it and stitched if it gapes. Bleeding without much plaque to explain it gets a letter to your GP asking for blood tests.
Treating the cause: from hygiene to extraction
- Gingivitis. A professional clean to remove the tartar you cannot brush off, and a proper demonstration of how to clean between your teeth. The bleeding stops within a couple of weeks.
- Periodontitis. Deeper cleaning of the root surfaces below the gum, under local anaesthetic, usually a quarter of the mouth at a time, with the pockets measured again after three months. Lost bone does not grow back, but the disease can be stopped where it is with regular hygienist visits.
- Necrotising gum disease. Gentle cleaning of the ulcerated areas, chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide rinses, and sometimes a short course of metronidazole. It improves within days.
- Gum abscess. The pocket is drained and cleaned out. See incision and drainage.
- A bleeding socket or wound. Local anaesthetic to shrink the vessels, a dissolving sponge packed into the socket, and a stitch or two.
- A tooth loosened by gum disease. Splinted to its neighbours if enough bone remains, or taken out (£120–£260) if it has become a source of infection. Our loose adult tooth guide explains the decision.
Fees are agreed in writing before treatment. Evening and weekend emergency visits carry an additional out-of-hours charge.
| Treatment | Fee (from) |
|---|---|
| Emergency examination including X-rays | £30 |
| New patient examination including X-rays | £85 |
| Hygienist clean or deep gum cleaning | priced at the visit |
| Extraction | £120–£260 |
What happens if bleeding gums are ignored
Gingivitis costs nothing but a fortnight of better brushing to reverse. Periodontitis cannot be reversed, only halted, and every month it runs unchecked is bone you do not get back. It is one of the main reasons adults lose teeth, and it does it quietly: there is rarely any pain until a tooth is loose or an abscess forms. It also matters for what comes after, because a tooth lost to gum disease is harder to replace: the bone an implant needs has been dissolved, and untreated gum disease is the main reason implants fail. A bit of pink in the sink is not a reason to panic. It is a reason to book, because it is the one stage at which the fix is easy.
Questions, answered
Common questions
Are bleeding gums always a sign of gum disease?
Nearly always, if the bleeding comes with brushing or flossing. The exceptions are an obvious injury, the first fortnight of a new flossing habit, and, rarely, a problem with the blood itself, which usually comes with bruising, nosebleeds or tiredness.
Should I stop brushing if my gums bleed?
No. The bleeding is inflammation caused by plaque, and the only thing that clears it is removing the plaque. Brush the gum line gently but thoroughly and clean between the teeth every day. It bleeds more for a few days and then stops.
Can bleeding gums heal on their own?
Early gum disease heals within about two weeks of proper daily cleaning, without any treatment from us. Once tartar has built up under the gum, or pockets have formed, it needs a professional clean to get the disease under control.
How long should a gum bleed after an injury?
A cut or a knocked gum should stop within ten minutes of firm pressure, and a tooth socket within 20 to 30 minutes. Bleeding that carries on after two rounds of pressure, or restarts hours later, needs looking at the same day.
When should I worry about bleeding gums?
When it is painful with ulcers and a bad smell, when there is pus or swelling, when a tooth has become loose, when bleeding will not stop after pressure, or when it comes with bruising, nosebleeds or feeling unwell. Ordinary bleeding on brushing is not a worry, but it is a reason to book.
In pain? Don’t wait
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