Infected gums typically announce themselves with a combination of redness, swelling, and bleeding, but the signs change depending on how far the infection has progressed. Nearly 42% of adults over 30 have some form of gum disease, and many don’t realize it because early stages can be painless. Knowing what to look for at each stage helps you catch the problem before it causes permanent damage.
The Earliest Signs: What Gingivitis Looks Like
Healthy gums are firm, pale pink, and hug tightly around each tooth. When bacterial plaque builds up along the gum line and isn’t removed, gums can become inflamed within just a few days. This early stage, gingivitis, is the most common form of gum infection and the easiest to reverse.
The first thing you’ll likely notice is color change. Your gums will appear redder than usual, particularly right along the line where they meet your teeth. This isn’t a subtle shift. It’s a noticeable, angry-looking red that may be patchy or spread across larger areas. The texture changes too: instead of feeling firm and resilient, your gums become puffy, spongy, and soft. You can often feel this difference just by pressing your tongue against them.
Bleeding is the hallmark sign most people notice first. If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, even lightly, that’s not normal. Healthy gums don’t bleed from routine cleaning. Some people dismiss this as brushing too hard, but consistent bleeding is one of the clearest signals that bacteria have triggered inflammation in the tissue.
Signs the Infection Is Getting Worse
Gingivitis sometimes resolves on its own if you improve your oral hygiene, but it can also linger and progress into periodontitis. The difference matters: gingivitis affects only the gum tissue and is fully reversible, while periodontitis destroys the bone and connective tissue that hold your teeth in place. That damage is permanent.
Periodontitis progresses in episodes, with short phases of active tissue destruction followed by longer quiet periods where things stabilize or even recover slightly. But it never goes away on its own. As the infection deepens, you’ll notice several changes that gingivitis alone doesn’t cause:
- Gum recession. Your gums start pulling away from your teeth, exposing portions of the root that were previously covered. Your teeth will look longer than they used to, and the gum line becomes uneven.
- Visible pockets. The spaces between your gums and teeth deepen as the tissue detaches. In a healthy mouth, these pockets measure 1 to 3 millimeters. At 4 to 6 millimeters, gums are actively detaching and bone loss may have started. At 7 millimeters or deeper, the disease is advanced and teeth are likely loose.
- Gaps between teeth. Teeth that used to fit snugly together may start shifting, creating new spaces.
- Changes in texture. Some areas of your gums may look shiny or glazed, while others appear rough or irregular. The natural curved contour around each tooth can flatten or become uneven.
Bad Breath and Metallic Taste
Persistent bad breath that doesn’t go away after brushing is one of the most overlooked signs of gum infection. The bacteria colonizing the pockets between your gums and teeth produce sulfur compounds that cause a distinctive, stubborn odor. If people around you mention your breath, or you notice it yourself despite good hygiene, gum disease is a common explanation.
A metallic or bloody taste is another secondary symptom. Inflamed gums release small amounts of blood that mix with saliva, creating that metallic flavor. As gingivitis worsens into periodontitis, this taste can intensify. Infections around individual teeth can cause the same thing.
What a Gum Abscess Looks Like
A gum abscess is a localized pocket of pus that forms in the gum tissue, and it’s a sign of acute infection rather than the slow-burn inflammation of general gum disease. It looks like a small boil or pimple on your gums, usually darker than the surrounding tissue and visibly swollen. The swelling can range from barely noticeable to severe.
Many people with a gum abscess experience throbbing pain or tenderness at the site, though some feel little discomfort at all. You may also notice pus or discharge, white, yellow, or greenish material along the gum line, especially when you press gently on the area or first thing in the morning. A toothache that radiates from one specific spot often accompanies the abscess.
How to Check Your Own Gums
You can do a basic self-assessment at home with a mirror and good lighting. Pull your lip away from your teeth and look at the gum tissue along your upper and lower jaw. Compare the color near the gum line to the tissue higher up toward your lip. Healthy tissue should be a consistent pale pink (or a consistent darker shade in people with more melanin). Red, swollen, or shiny patches along the gum line are the most visible warning signs.
Run your tongue along the inside of your gums and note whether the tissue feels firm or spongy. Press gently with a clean finger and check for tenderness or any discharge. Look for areas where gums seem to have pulled away from a tooth, exposing a yellowish root surface. Check whether any teeth feel loose by gently pressing them with your fingers. Even slight mobility in an adult tooth that was previously stable is a red flag.
Pay attention to your toothbrush after brushing. Pink-tinged bristles or blood in the sink are not something to brush off as normal wear and tear. Track how often this happens. If it occurs regularly over two or more weeks despite gentle brushing, infection is the most likely cause.
When the Infection Becomes a Broader Health Problem
Most gum infections stay localized in the mouth, but in some cases bacteria can spread and trigger a systemic response. A high fever alongside swollen, painful gums is a sign that infection may be spreading beyond the local tissue. Swelling in the lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck, or swelling that extends into the jaw itself, signals the same thing. These symptoms call for prompt dental or medical attention rather than a wait-and-see approach.
Severe periodontitis affects about 8% of adults, and at that stage the consequences go beyond gum pain. Significant bone loss can make teeth too unstable to save. The earlier you identify the signs and intervene, the more of the damage you can prevent or reverse.