If your gums bleed when you floss, that’s not normal—even if it’s been happening for years. Many people assume it’s just part of getting older or that they’re brushing too hard. But bleeding gums are actually an early warning sign of gum disease, and nearly half of adults over 30 are dealing with it right now.

The challenge is that your mouth changes as you age. The same habits that kept your smile healthy in your twenties might not be enough in your fifties. Gum recession happens. Medications cause dry mouth. Saliva production decreases. All of these factors make your gums more vulnerable to disease.

Gum disease is preventable, and in its earliest stage, it’s completely reversible. Let’s talk about what’s happening in your mouth and how to protect your gums for the long haul.

Table of Contents

The Big Gums & Aging Question: What’s Really Happening?
Gum Disease vs. Periodontal Disease: What’s the Difference?
Stage 1: Gingivitis (The Early Warning)
Stage 2: Periodontitis (The Serious Progression)
Your Action Plan for Healthy Gums
At-Home Habits That Make a Difference
Seek Professional Dental Care in Somerset
Your Partners in Lifelong Gum Health

Your Gums & Aging: What’s Really Happening?

You might notice little changes and wonder if they’re normal. Maybe your gums look a little redder than they used to, or they feel tender after brushing. It’s easy to dismiss these discomforts as temporary. But often, they’re early whispers of a bigger issue.

As we age, several factors can make our gums more vulnerable to disease. Decades of aggressive brushing can lead to gum recession, where the gum tissue pulls back from the tooth and exposes more of the root (as a result, making it easier for bacteria to find a home).

Similarly, certain medications, the use of which becomes more common as we age, can cause dry mouth. Saliva is your mouth’s natural defense system, helping to wash away food particles and neutralize acids, so when you have less of it, the bacteria have a major advantage.

Even with perfect oral care at home, you’re up against some surprising barriers. Did you know that 47.2% of adults older than 30 have some form of periodontal disease? And the number jumps to over 60% for adults 65 and older. That just goes to show how common oral health issues become as we age.

Gum Disease vs. Periodontal Disease: What’s the Difference?

You’ll often hear these terms used together, but they represent different stages of the same problem.

Stage 1: Gingivitis (The Early Warning)

Gingivitis is the earliest and mildest form of gum disease. It’s caused by plaque, which is that sticky, invisible film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. When plaque isn’t removed, it hardens into tartar, which irritates the gum line.

The signs of gingivitis are often subtle and painless, which is why they’re so easy to ignore (or miss entirely). If you do notice symptoms, you might see:

  • Puffy or swollen gums: They might look a little inflamed, especially around the edges of your teeth.
  • A reddish or dark red colour: Healthy gums are typically a firm, pale pink.
  • Bleeding when you brush or floss: This is a classic sign of gingivitis and often happens even when you aren’t brushing too hard.
  • Bad breath that won’t go away: The bacteria causing the inflammation can also cause persistent bad breath.

Gingivitis can be reversible. With regular professional cleanings and a commitment to consistent brushing and flossing, you can restore your gums to their full health.

Stage 2: Periodontitis (The Serious Progression)

Periodontitis is what happens when gingivitis is left untreated. Infection and inflammation spread from the gums to the structures that support your teeth, and then the gums begin to pull away from the teeth, creating small pockets. These pockets become reservoirs for bacteria, deepening the infection.

As periodontitis progresses, your body’s immune system tries to fight the bacteria. Unfortunately, this battle also causes the breakdown of the bone and connective tissue that hold your teeth in place.

The signs of periodontitis are more serious than those of gingivitis:

  • Receding gums (your teeth might look longer than they used to)
  • New spaces developing between your teeth
  • Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
  • Loose or shifting teeth
  • Pain when chewing

Unlike gingivitis, the damage from periodontitis is not reversible, since we can’t regrow the bone or tissue that has been lost. However, with professional treatment, we can stop the disease from progressing. Managing it can prevent further damage or tooth loss.

Your Action Plan for Healthy Gums

So, what can you do to protect your gums? It comes down to two things: consistent habits at home and regular professional care.

At-Home Habits That Make a Difference

Your daily routine is your first line of defense.

  • Brush twice a day, the right way: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Angle the brush at 45 degrees toward the gum line and use gentle, circular motions. Don’t scrub! Think of it as massaging your gums, not scouring a pan.
  • Floss every single day: Flossing is the only way to remove plaque from between your teeth and under the gum line, where your toothbrush can’t reach. If you find traditional floss tricky, floss picks or interdental brushes work well too.
  • Use a Waterpik regularly: A water flosser is excellent for flushing out bacteria and debris from gum pockets, especially as gums recede with age. It’s a great complement to traditional flossing and can reach areas that are hard to clean manually.

Commit to Consistent Dental Cleanings

Even the most diligent brusher and flosser can’t remove all the tartar that builds up over time.
A professional dental cleaning removes the hardened tartar that your toothbrush can’t, which gives your gums a clean slate and reduces the inflammation that leads to gum disease.

During your visit, we’ll perform a comprehensive gum assessment, measuring the depth of the small pockets between your teeth and gums. Healthy pockets are shallow, while deeper pockets can be a sign of periodontitis. This simple, painless check allows us to detect problems long before you might notice any symptoms yourself.

If we do find signs of periodontitis, we can create a personalized treatment plan, which may involve deeper cleanings (recommended by the Canadian Dental Association to prevent gum disease), to get the disease under control and protect your smile.

Your Partners in Lifelong Gum Health

Taking care of your gums as you get older doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. When you adopt these smart, sustainable habits and have a trusted dental team on your side, you can coast into a healthy dental future.

The team at Somerset Dental on James is dedicated to providing our patients with proactive, preventative dental care right here in Calgary’s SW community of Somerset. We’re not here to judge your past habits. We’re here to be your partners for a healthy future.

Whether you’re noticing the first subtle signs of gum trouble or you just want to make sure you’re on the right track for the years ahead, we’re here to help.

Give your gums the attention they deserve. Schedule a dental appointment with us today. Let’s work together to keep your smile strong and healthy for a lifetime.