What signs indicate that gingivitis has become severe?

Swelling, bleeding..: • red, swollen, or tender gums • bleeding while brushing, flossing, or eating • gums shrinking or pulling away from teeth • persistent bad breath.

Bleeding gums: Pain or soreness with bleeding or swollen gums due to inflammation can be symptoms of severe gingivitis. See your dentist for a cleaning or deep scaling

Dental exam: You may notice a fetid odor or loosening teeth; but the only sure diagnosis is from a periodontal exam and x-rays with your dentist.

Spontaneous bleeding: Gingivitis is just an inflammation of the gums due to primarily bacteria, untreated, plaque will invade the lower layers of the gums mainly attacking the attachment apparatus around the teeth, bleeding become more often and you are getting into the second irreversible stage of gum disease with bone loss. Don't wait till it get worse, get them professionally cleaned as often as possible.

Gum Disease: Signs of progressive gum disease may include pain, bleeding, swelling, bad breath, bad taste, loosening of teeth. Any or all indicate that you are overdue for professional help. The infection will not self heal, and has been implicated in heart disease, stroke, liver/kidney disease, etc. Please see your General Dentist or preferably a specialist Periodontist if you have any of these signs.