What is gum (periodontal) treatment?
Gum treatment — known clinically as periodontal treatment — treats infection and inflammation in the gums and the bone that holds your teeth in place. It ranges from a deep cleaning below the gumline to surgical procedures that regenerate lost tissue, depending on how far the disease has progressed.
Gum disease is remarkably common and remarkably underestimated. It is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults — ahead of decay — and it does its damage quietly, often without pain, until teeth begin to loosen. Bleeding when you brush is not something to live with. It is the first warning.
At Mera Dental Clinic in Delhi, gum treatment is led by Dr. Naseem Ashraf and Dr. Nishit Dikshit, both periodontists — specialists whose entire postgraduate training is in exactly this field.
The stages of gum disease
Gingivitis — reversible
Plaque and tartar at the gumline irritate the gums. They turn red, swell and bleed when brushed. At this stage no bone has been lost, and a professional cleaning plus good home care returns the gums to full health within weeks. This is the stage everyone should be treated at.
Early periodontitis
The infection moves below the gumline. The gum detaches slightly from the tooth, forming a pocket that traps bacteria where no toothbrush reaches. The first bone loss begins. Damage from here is not fully reversible — but it can be stopped.
Moderate periodontitis
Pockets deepen. More bone is lost. Gums recede, teeth look longer, sensitivity increases, and bad breath becomes persistent. Teeth may begin to shift.
Advanced periodontitis
Substantial bone loss. Teeth become mobile, drift apart, and hurt when chewing. Abscesses form. Some teeth cannot be saved. Treatment focuses on halting the disease and rescuing everything still salvageable.
Why the early stage matters so much: gingivitis is completely curable. Periodontitis can be controlled but the lost bone does not grow back on its own. The difference between the two is often just a few months of ignoring bleeding gums.
Signs and symptoms of gum disease
- Bleeding gums when brushing, flossing or eating — the earliest and most ignored sign.
- Red, swollen or tender gums instead of firm and pale pink.
- Persistent bad breath or a constant bad taste.
- Receding gums — teeth that look longer than before.
- Sensitive, exposed root surfaces.
- Loose teeth, or teeth that have started to drift or splay.
- A change in your bite, or dentures that no longer fit as they did.
- Pus at the gum margin, or a gum abscess.
- Gaps opening up between teeth that were previously tight.
Smokers should be especially alert. Nicotine constricts the blood vessels in the gums and masks bleeding, so the disease advances silently and is often discovered late and at an advanced stage.
What causes gum disease?
The direct cause is bacterial plaque left undisturbed along and below the gumline, hardening into tartar. Several factors accelerate it:
- Inadequate cleaning between teeth — brushing alone misses the surfaces where gum disease starts.
- Smoking and tobacco or paan use — the single biggest risk factor after plaque itself.
- Diabetes, especially when poorly controlled. The relationship runs both ways.
- Hormonal changes in pregnancy, puberty and menopause.
- Genetics — some people are simply more susceptible.
- Stress, which suppresses immune response.
- Certain medications that reduce saliva or cause gum overgrowth.
- Crowded or crooked teeth, which are harder to clean — one reason orthodontic treatment benefits gum health too.
Gum disease and your general health
Chronic gum infection means a constant low-grade inflammatory load on the body. Research has consistently linked periodontitis with heart disease, stroke, poorly controlled diabetes, respiratory infection, rheumatoid arthritis and adverse pregnancy outcomes including premature birth and low birth weight.
For patients with diabetes the connection is particularly practical: treating gum disease often improves blood sugar control, and better blood sugar control improves gum healing. If you are diabetic, gum care is part of managing your diabetes.
How we treat gum disease, step by step
- Full periodontal assessment. We measure the pocket depth around every tooth with a fine probe, record bleeding points, check for recession and mobility, and take X-rays to see the bone level. This gives an exact map of the disease rather than a guess.
- Explaining what we found. We show you your own chart and X-rays and explain, tooth by tooth, what is healthy, what is at risk and what needs saving.
- Scaling and root planing (deep cleaning). The core treatment. Under local anaesthesia, tartar and bacterial deposits are removed from below the gumline, and the root surfaces are smoothed so the gum can reattach. Usually done in quadrants over two to four visits for your comfort.
- Antimicrobial support where needed. Locally applied antimicrobials or a short course of antibiotics in specific cases — used selectively, not routinely.
- Reassessment after healing. Four to eight weeks later we re-measure everything. In the majority of patients, pockets have shrunk, bleeding has stopped and no further treatment is needed.
- Surgical treatment, if required. Where deep pockets persist, procedures such as flap surgery, bone grafting or guided tissue regeneration allow us to clean deeper and, in suitable cases, rebuild lost support.
- Periodontal maintenance. Three to four monthly professional cleanings thereafter. This is not optional extra care — it is what keeps the disease from returning.
Surgical gum treatments we offer
- Flap surgery (pocket reduction). The gum is gently lifted to allow thorough cleaning of deep root surfaces, then repositioned snugly against the tooth to reduce pocket depth.
- Bone grafting. Grafting material is placed where bone has been destroyed, providing a scaffold for new bone to form around the tooth.
- Guided tissue regeneration. A membrane is placed so that bone and ligament can regrow without being outpaced by faster-growing gum tissue.
- Gum grafting for recession. Tissue is used to cover exposed roots, reducing sensitivity, protecting against root decay and improving appearance.
- Crown lengthening. Reshaping gum and bone to expose more tooth — either to restore a badly broken tooth or to correct a "gummy" smile as part of a smile makeover.
Does gum treatment hurt?
Deep cleaning is done under local anaesthesia, so the procedure itself is painless. Afterwards, expect tenderness for a few days and some sensitivity to cold — normal, and manageable with ordinary painkillers and warm salt-water rinses.
Two things patients notice afterwards and worry about: teeth feeling slightly looser, and small gaps appearing. Both are the consequence of removing tartar that had been splinting teeth and propping up swollen gums. The disease caused it; the treatment revealed it. As inflammation resolves, gums tighten around the teeth and the improvement is usually noticeable within weeks.
Aftercare and long-term maintenance
- Keep brushing gently but thoroughly, including treated areas. Skipping them slows healing.
- Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental brushes — with gum disease, this is non-negotiable.
- Warm salt-water rinses several times a day for the first few days.
- Use any prescribed mouthwash exactly as directed, and not indefinitely.
- Soft foods for a couple of days after deeper treatment.
- Stop smoking. Nothing else you do will have a comparable effect on the outcome.
- Attend maintenance visits every three to four months. Gum disease is controlled, not cured — like blood pressure, it needs ongoing management.
Cost of gum treatment at Mera Dental
Cost depends on severity — a single session of deep cleaning is very different from full-mouth treatment across several visits, or surgical regeneration. After the assessment we give you a written plan with the full cost, and where treatment spans several stages we tell you what is urgent and what can be phased. Your first consultation and X-ray are free, and EMI is available on larger treatment plans. Call +91 98912 42043 for current pricing.
Why choose Mera Dental for gum treatment
Gum disease is exactly what a periodontist is trained for, and this clinic has two. Dr. Naseem Ashraf — BDS (AMU), MDS in Periodontics, with over twenty years of experience — founded Mera Dental, and Dr. Nishit Dikshit — BDS (AMU), MDS (MAIDS) — practises alongside him as periodontist and implantologist. More on our about us page.
- Specialist-led diagnosis with full pocket charting, not a quick look.
- Saving teeth first — extraction is the last resort, never the opening offer.
- Painless technique and a genuinely gentle approach for anxious patients.
- Strict sterilisation for every patient.
- Complete follow-through — from deep cleaning to grafting to implants if teeth are eventually lost.
Frequently asked questions
Is bleeding from the gums serious?
It is the earliest sign of gum disease and should never be dismissed as normal. At the gingivitis stage it is completely reversible with professional cleaning and good home care, so acting on it early is genuinely worthwhile.
Can gum disease be cured?
Gingivitis can be fully cured. Periodontitis, where bone has already been lost, can be stopped and controlled but the lost bone does not return on its own — although grafting can rebuild some of it in suitable cases.
Does deep cleaning hurt?
It is done under local anaesthesia, so you feel nothing during the procedure. Tenderness and cold sensitivity for a few days afterwards are normal and settle quickly.
Will my loose teeth tighten again?
Teeth loose because of inflammation often firm up noticeably as the gums heal. Teeth loose because of severe bone loss may need splinting or, in some cases, cannot be saved. The assessment tells us which situation you are in.
Why do gaps appear after gum treatment?
Because swollen gum tissue shrinks back to its healthy position and tartar that was filling the spaces has been removed. It looks like a new problem but is actually a sign of healing.
How many visits will I need?
Mild cases often need one or two. Moderate to advanced disease is usually treated quadrant by quadrant over two to four visits, followed by a reassessment.
Does smoking really affect gum treatment?
Yes, substantially. Smokers heal more slowly, respond less well to treatment and relapse more often. Stopping improves the outcome more than any other single change you can make.
Is gum treatment safe during pregnancy?
Yes, and pregnancy gingivitis is very common. The second trimester is the most comfortable time. Tell us you are pregnant so we can adjust positioning and defer non-urgent X-rays.
How often will I need cleanings afterwards?
Every three to four months. Periodontal maintenance at this interval is what prevents the disease from returning, and it is the most important part of long-term success.
Can gum disease cause tooth loss?
Yes — it is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. That is precisely why treating it early matters so much.
Book a gum assessment
If your gums bleed, feel sore or have started to recede, have them assessed properly by a periodontist. Early treatment saves teeth. Your first consultation and X-ray are free.
Call +91 98912 42043 or book online. Open Monday to Saturday 9 AM to 8 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 2 PM.