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Toothbrushing

How to Test Your Gums for Health & Track Your Periodontal Progress

Healthy Gums and Unhealthy Gums

Score Your Gum Health with a Self Exam

Keep track of your Healthy Gums Score with our handy table. Anything less than Good needs to be improved, the less bleeding the better. Keep in mind smoking may mask gingival bleeding and irritation.

Percentage of Bleeding AreasScore
Less than 5%Excellent
5-10%Good
10-15%Fair
Greater Than 15%Poor

Track Your Weekly Gum Health Progress

Use the tooth charts below to track your weekly progress. Use them until your gum health stabilizes at your target level, and then as needed.

  • Adult Gum Health Test (use if any or all permanent teeth present)
  • Child Gum Health Test (use if only baby teeth present)

Proper Testing Technique

The self exam is as easy as flossing. If you need a refresher on how to floss the step by step diagram below is very helpful.
How to Floss Step by Step
For a way to measure the effectiveness of your brushing use our Plaque Score Test.


Scott Frey

Scott Frey is a renowned Orthodontist, professional speaker, and founder of the More than Smiles Movement.