It’s important to know what healthy gums look like so that you can tell whether yours are or not! Our Delta dentists describe some of the ways that you can tell the difference between healthy gums and unhealthy ones based on appearance.
Colour
Healthy gums can actually come in quite a wide range of colours. Most are pink, but some can be very light pink, and others can be more toward brown or even black. As you might expect, darker coloured gums are more common in individuals with darker skin tones.
But there are some colours that may indicate that gum disease is present. Gums that are bright red, white or unnaturally black may be indicative of a problem. The most important thing you should note is a change in colour. If you've noticed that the colour of your gums has changed recently, you should definitely get them checked out by your dentist.
Texture
Healthy gums should be firm to the touch. You will not be able to move them around with your finger, and they will fit snugly around your teeth.
Unhealthy gums often look and feel puffy and are noticeably malleable. They may feel soft and somewhat tender to the touch, and begin to pull back away from the teeth (this is called gum recession).
Healthy gums do not bleed during brushing or flossing. If your gums bleed when you brush and floss, it could be a sign of gum disease.