Our Surrey dentists describe some of the ways that you can tell the difference between healthy gums and unhealthy ones based on how they look, and their texture.
Colour
Healthy gums actually come in an very wide range of colours. Most of the time, healthy gums are a shade of pink, but sometimes they can be more toward brown or even black. As you might imagine, darker coloured gums are more common in people with darker skin tones.
But there are certain colours that could indicate that gum disease is present. Gums that are bright red, white or unnaturally black may be indicative of a problem. The most significant thing to note is any obvious change in colour. For instance, if you've noticed that the colour of your gums has changed from pink to red, you should definitely get them checked out by your dentist.
Texture
Healthy gums are firm to the touch. You will not be able to move them around with your finger, and they will fit snugly around your teeth, with no gaps or "pockets".
Unhealthy gums, on the other hand, may feel soft and somewhat tender to the touch, and often look and feel puffy. They may also begin to pull back away from the teeth, forming pockets.
Healthy gums will not bleed during brushing or flossing. If your gums bleed when you brush and floss, it could be a sign of gum disease.