The Chairside Instructor 13 Gum (Periodontal) Disease Gum Disease Warning Signs of Gum Disease • gums that bleed when you brush or floss • gums that are red, swollen, puffy, or tender • gums that no longer hug your teeth tightly • bad breath that doesn’t go away • pus between your teeth and gums • feeling that your teeth are loose • a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite • a change in the way your partial dentures fit Plaque that is not removed between the teeth and on the gum line can cause the gums to become red, puffy, and swollen. Image ©Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Radiograph showing supporting bone. Radiograph showing periodontal bone loss. Periodontal probe of healthy gums. Periodontal probe showing space forming between the tooth root and the gums. Dentists call this a pocket. 6mm Periodontal Probing Bone Loss What is Periodontal Disease? Periodontal (PERRY-o-DON- tal) disease — also called gum disease — is an infection and inflammation that affects the tissues and bone that support your teeth. You may notice one or some of these warning signs, or you may not notice any warning signs at all.