Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Ash Kler, DDS ·
Most people who see pink in the sink do one of two things: ignore it, or stop flossing "because flossing makes them bleed." Both responses have it exactly backwards. Healthy gums do not bleed, not from brushing, not from flossing, not a little, not "for me." Bleeding is your gums filing a report.
In most cases: gingivitis. Plaque bacteria along the gumline trigger inflammation; inflamed tissue is engorged and fragile, so ordinary contact makes it bleed. The critical fact about gingivitis is that it is fully reversible, the bone beneath is untouched, and thorough cleaning plus better home care returns gums to health, usually within a couple of weeks.
Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis, where the battle moves below the gumline and the bacteria begin destroying the bone that anchors your teeth. Gums recede, pockets deepen, breath sours, and teeth eventually loosen. Unlike gingivitis, the bone loss of periodontitis does not reverse on its own, which makes the bleeding-gums stage the cheap, easy exit you do not want to miss. Gum disease remains the leading cause of adult tooth loss, and it runs almost comfortablely until late.
Flossing inflamed gums causes bleeding; flossing them daily for two weeks usually stops it. The floss was never the problem; the plaque it removes was. Gentle technique, curved against each tooth, matters, but persistence matters more.
Bleeding despite two weeks of solid brushing and flossing, spontaneous bleeding, bleeding with looseness, receding gums, or persistent bad breath all warrant an assessment. So does bleeding if you are pregnant (hormones amplify gum response), diabetic (a two-way street with gum disease), or on blood thinners.
A professional cleaning to remove the tartar you cannot, honest home-care coaching, and, where pockets have formed, deeper periodontal therapy. Then maintenance. Gums are forgiving tissue; give them two clean weeks and watch the sink run clear.
Pink in the sink? Book a gum assessment: (250) 372-2326.
Have questions about your own smile? Call (250) 372-2326 or request an appointment.