Do I Have Gum Disease?
Answer 10 clinical questions in under 2 minutes. We'll score your risk based on the same factors periodontists screen for — bleeding gums, bone loss, tobacco, diabetes, and more.
Based on AAP 2017 periodontal staging criteria · No signup required
Do your gums bleed when you brush or floss?
Bleeding gums are one of the earliest signs of gum inflammation (gingivitis).
Understanding Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease)
Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. The CDC reports that nearly 47% of adults over 30 — and 70% of adults 65 and older — have some form of periodontitis. Despite its prevalence, most cases are both preventable and treatable when caught early.
Gum disease progresses in two main stages: gingivitis (reversible inflammation confined to the gum tissue) and periodontitis (irreversible infection that destroys the bone and connective tissue supporting your teeth). The challenge: periodontitis causes few noticeable symptoms until late stages — making periodic clinical evaluation with pocket-depth measurements your only reliable screening tool.
Key Risk Factors Screened in This Quiz
- Bleeding gums — the earliest, most actionable warning sign
- Gum recession or exposed roots — signals tissue and bone loss
- Mobile or shifting teeth — indicates significant bone support loss
- Tobacco use — 2–7× higher risk; masks early symptoms by reducing bleeding
- Diabetes — bidirectional relationship; uncontrolled blood sugar accelerates bone loss
- Family history — genetic susceptibility increases risk by up to 30%
- Gap in care — tartar below the gumline can only be removed professionally
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the early warning signs of gum disease?
- The earliest sign of gum disease (gingivitis) is bleeding gums when brushing or flossing. Other early signs include puffy, reddened, or tender gums, persistent bad breath, and visible plaque or tartar buildup along the gumline. At the gingivitis stage, the condition is fully reversible with professional cleaning and improved home care. If left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis, which involves bone loss and is no longer reversible — only manageable.
- Can gum disease go away on its own?
- Gingivitis (early-stage inflammation) can resolve with thorough professional cleaning and improved daily brushing and flossing. However, periodontitis (the stage involving bone loss) does not go away on its own — it requires professional treatment such as scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) and ongoing periodontal maintenance. Untreated periodontitis progresses silently over years, eventually leading to tooth loss.
- What is the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis?
- Gingivitis is inflammation of the gum tissue only, with no bone or tissue loss. It is completely reversible. Periodontitis is a more advanced infection that has destroyed the bone and tissue support around teeth. According to the 2017 AAP classification, periodontitis is staged by severity (Stage I–IV) and graded by rate of progression (Grade A–C). Once bone is lost, it does not fully grow back without surgical intervention.
- How accurate is this gum disease risk quiz?
- This quiz is an educational screening tool — not a clinical diagnosis. It evaluates the same risk factors that clinicians use in initial periodontal assessments (bleeding, bone loss history, tobacco use, diabetes, family history, and others) and gives you a risk tier (low, moderate, or elevated). Definitive diagnosis requires in-person examination with a probe measurement of pocket depths and full-mouth X-rays to assess bone levels.
- Does gum disease affect overall health?
- Yes. Research published in peer-reviewed journals documents associations between periodontitis and systemic conditions including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes (bidirectional relationship), adverse pregnancy outcomes (preterm birth, low birth weight), respiratory disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Treating periodontal disease has been shown to improve glycemic control in diabetic patients and reduce markers of systemic inflammation (CRP, IL-6).
- What does gum disease treatment involve?
- For most patients with mild to moderate periodontitis, the first-line treatment is scaling and root planing (SRP) — a deep cleaning performed under local anesthetic that removes tartar and bacteria from below the gumline and smooths the root surfaces to discourage bacterial reattachment. This is followed by 3–4 month periodontal maintenance cleanings. Advanced cases may require surgical intervention such as osseous surgery or bone grafting. Antibiotics (local or systemic) may be used adjunctively.
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This symptom checker provides general educational information only and is not a medical diagnosis. It is not a substitute for professional dental examination, diagnosis, or treatment. Symptoms can have multiple causes, and only a qualified dentist can determine the appropriate course of care after an in-person evaluation.
If you are experiencing severe pain, swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or signs of infection, seek emergency dental care immediately.
By using this tool, you acknowledge that it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. This website is not a secure patient portal. Do not submit sensitive health records, social security numbers, or information you would not want sent via a standard web form. No personal health information is stored or transmitted to third parties.