Gum disease is the most common reason adults lose teeth, and it is largely painless until it is advanced. Bleeding while brushing is not normal, it is the earliest reliable sign.
Gingivitis, inflammation limited to the gum, is fully reversible with professional cleaning and better home care. Periodontitis, where the supporting bone has already been lost, is manageable but the lost bone does not come back on its own. The gap between those two stages is the reason early treatment matters.
When gum treatment is the right treatment
- Gums that bleed while brushing or eating
- Persistent bad breath
- Visible tartar or receding gums
- Teeth that feel loose or have drifted
- Diabetic patients, where gum disease and glycaemic control worsen each other
What the treatment involves
- 1
Periodontal charting
Pocket depths are measured around each tooth and an X-ray assesses bone levels. This distinguishes gingivitis from periodontitis.
- 2
Scaling and polishing
Ultrasonic removal of plaque and calculus above and just below the gum line, followed by polishing.
- 3
Root planing
For deeper pockets, the root surfaces are cleaned under local anaesthesia, usually quadrant by quadrant.
- 4
Maintenance
Re-evaluation after healing, then a recall interval set by risk, commonly three to six months for treated periodontitis.
Cost
Routine scaling is inexpensive. The price moves once deposits have gone below the gum line and it becomes gum disease treatment.
See gum treatment costs in Lucknow →Gum Treatment: common questions
Does scaling loosen teeth or damage enamel?
No. This is the most persistent myth in dentistry. Scaling removes calculus that was splinting mobile teeth together and filling spaces created by bone loss, so teeth can feel loose or gaps can appear afterwards. The scaling revealed the damage, it did not cause it. Ultrasonic scalers work on calculus, not enamel.
How often should I get a professional cleaning?
Every six months for most people. Every three to four months where there is a history of periodontitis, diabetes, smoking or heavy calculus buildup.
Will my gums grow back?
Recession does not reverse on its own. Inflammation resolves and gums firm up after treatment, but lost gum and bone need grafting procedures to be replaced, and those have their own indications.
Medically reviewed
Reviewed by Dr. Dhanya Saxena, BDS, MHA, FMC, FAOI, oro-dental surgeon and aesthetic physician at Redefine Dental and Facial Aesthetic, Indira Nagar, Lucknow. Dental Council registration 20935. Last reviewed 30 August 2026.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a quotation. Your own treatment and cost are determined after an examination.