Bleeding gums are common, but they are not normal, and they are almost always treatable. Gum disease is the biggest reason adults lose teeth, yet caught early it is easy to control and often to reverse. We treat it gently, and we show you how to keep it away.v
Tell us when suits and we will call you back to arrange it. No obligation.
Treatment Overview
What Is Gum Disease Treatment?
Gum disease treatment is the care of your gums, the part of your mouth that holds your teeth in place. It starts by finding out how far the problem has gone, then clearing away the cause and calming the inflammation, so your gums can get healthy again.
It nearly always begins with plaque, a soft, sticky film of bacteria that builds up on your teeth every day. If it is not brushed away it irritates the gums and makes them red, swollen and prone to bleeding. This early stage is called gingivitis, and at this point the problem can usually be turned around completely. Left alone, the plaque hardens into a rough deposit called tartar, which you cannot shift with a toothbrush at home. It has to be cleaned off by a dentist or hygienist. If the tartar is left to sit, the problem moves deeper and becomes gum disease proper, which can damage the bone that holds your teeth in place. That is why gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
Treating it is more straightforward than most people fear. We check your gums carefully to see how far things have gone, then give the teeth a thorough professional clean to remove the tartar. Where the problem has reached below the gumline, we clean there too, gently. We finish by showing you the easiest way to keep on top of it at home, and we set up regular hygiene visits to hold your gums steady long term. Most of this is done with a clean rather than anything more involved, and it is usually far more comfortable than people expect.
Gum treatment here is backed by real expertise. Our team includes a dentist who holds a Master's degree in Periodontology, which is the study of the gums. Looking after gums is their specialist subject, so a tricky case is in the right hands.
Keeping gum disease away comes down to regular professional cleaning, so our hygiene and cleaning appointments work hand in hand with this treatment. If you have been putting this off because you feel embarrassed or nervous, you are not the first. We will not lecture you. We start from where you are and take it gently.
Signs your gums need attention:
Gums that bleed when you brush or clean between your teeth
Red, swollen or tender gums
Bad breath that will not go away
Gums that are shrinking back from your teeth
Teeth that feel loose or have started to move
A change in how your teeth fit together when you bite
What gum treatment involves:
A careful check of your gums and the bone around them
A professional clean to remove the tartar a toothbrush cannot shift
A gentle deeper clean below the gumline where it is needed
Gentle EMS air polish for a thorough, comfortable clean
Simple home-care advice, built around your mouth
Regular hygiene visits to keep your gums healthy for good
Before we look, we ask what you have noticed. Bleeding? Soreness? Bad breath? And if the dentist makes you nervous, tell us. It changes how we do things.
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We check your gums properly
We examine your gums and teeth, measure where needed, and take digital X-rays if we need to see the bone underneath. This tells us exactly how far things have gone, using far less radiation than older film.
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We show you what we found
On the screen, so you can see it yourself rather than take our word for it.
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A written plan and a price
What needs doing, what each step costs, and how to keep your gums healthy afterwards. No pressure, and you decide from there.
Longer appointments, so we can talk through your concerns and give you a break if you need one.
Almost pain-free injections
The Wand numbs you without the big needle or the sting. Most patients are surprised how easy it is.
Digital X-rays
We diagnose faster, more accurately and with far less radiation than older film.
A hand to hold
Bring a partner in, or hold a nurse's hand. If you ever need us, we respond the same day.
About Waterside Dental
Your private dental practicein Hythe.
Waterside Dental is a private practice in Hythe, owned and led by principal dentist Dr Nikos Louskos since 2017. It has recently been refurbished to feel more like home than a clinic, and is run by a small, hand-picked team — so you'll always see a familiar face.
Care here is unhurried and patient-led. Appointments are longer so concerns can be talked through properly, treatment is explained in plain language, and nothing is rushed — with breaks during longer procedures whenever you need them.
We welcome private patients from Hythe and across Southampton — whether you're registering as a new patient or visiting for a single course of treatment while staying with your current dentist.
"I firmly believe that dentistry doesn't have to be unpleasant or scary, and that often it can be life-changing."
DR NIKOS LOUSKOS
Our Principal Dentist
Meet Dr NikosLouskos.
DDS · MSc Endodontics · GDC No. 102626
Principal dentist and practice owner, with a special interest in endodontics.
Dr Nikos Louskos qualified in Athens in 2005 and moved to the UK in 2006. He worked as an associate at Waterside before taking ownership of the practice in 2017.
In 2016 he completed a Master's in Endodontic Practice at Queen Mary University of London. He accepts referrals for complex root canal cases, which he treats under a microscope, and enjoys all aspects of general dentistry.
Nobody wants surprises after a dental visit. You'll get an itemised treatment plan with exact costs before anything begins, plus monthly payment options to spread the cost.
Finance is provided by Tabeo and is interest-bearing from 9.9% APR. Practice-plan discounts apply to selected treatments — full terms are listed on the Fees and Plans pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions patientsask us.
A few of the things patients ask us most often. If your question isn't here, just get in touch — we're happy to talk it through.
Bleeding gums are common, but they are not normal. They are usually caused by plaque, a soft film of bacteria that builds up on the teeth and irritates the gums. This early inflammation is called gingivitis, and if it is left it can develop into gum disease. If the plaque is not cleaned away by daily brushing and cleaning between your teeth, it hardens into a deposit called tartar, which only a dentist or hygienist can remove. Keep brushing even if your gums bleed, because stopping makes the build-up worse. After a few days of thorough cleaning your gums should settle. If they do not, come and see us, as you may need a professional clean. One more thing worth knowing: smoking can hide a gum problem by reducing the blood flow to your gums, so if you have recently stopped smoking you may notice some bleeding as the circulation improves.
It depends how far it has gone. The early stage, gingivitis, can be turned around completely with a good clean and better home care. Once it has become full gum disease and affected the bone, we cannot undo that damage, but we can stop it getting worse and keep your teeth stable. Either way, the sooner we see you, the better the result.
For most people, no. Treating gum disease is usually a thorough professional clean, which is not painful, just a bit of pressure and scraping. If any part is likely to be uncomfortable we can numb the area, and we use The Wand for almost pain-free injections. Tell us if you are nervous and we will take it slowly.
For most people every six months works well. If your gums need more attention we may suggest coming in more often for a while, then stretching the visits out once things are stable. We will tell you what suits your mouth rather than apply a blanket rule.
Yes. We offer Direct Access, which means you can book straight in with our hygienist for a clean without a dental appointment first. If we spot anything that needs a dentist, we will tell you.
Try a toothpaste made for sensitivity, and rub a little into the sensitive area before bed. Avoid strongly acidic food and drink, and wait about an hour after eating before you brush. If it carries on, come and see us. Sensitivity has several causes and we can work out which one is yours.
We are a private practice. That means longer appointments and no restrictions on the materials and techniques we can use. We publish all our prices, and our Practice Plan lets you spread the cost of routine care monthly.
Yes. A new patient examination is £92 and includes any X-rays you need, a full set of photos, and a written treatment plan with timescales and exact costs.
Whether you'd like to book or just have a question about treatment, send us a message and a member of the team will get back to you — the same day wherever we can.
