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Dentistry vocabulary · Teeth and Oral Anatomy

Gum

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/ɡʌm/nounCore term

In dentistry, gum means: The firm pink tissue that covers the jawbone and fits tightly around the neck of each tooth. The technical word is gingiva.

In Turkish: diş eti

How it is used

Usually plural when talking to patients: bleeding gums, sore gums, receding gums. In notes and papers dentists prefer gingiva and the adjective gingival (gingival margin, gingival bleeding).

Example sentences

  1. Do your gums bleed when you brush?

  2. The gum around the lower molar is red and swollen.

Common collocations

  • bleeding gums
  • gum disease
  • swollen gums
  • gum line
  • receding gums
  • gingivitisInflammation of the gums, usually caused by plaque. The gums look red and swollen and bleed easily, but good cleaning can reverse it.
  • periodontitisA serious gum disease in which infection destroys the bone and tissues that hold the teeth. Pockets form, teeth may loosen, and lost bone does not grow back by itself.
  • gingival recessionShrinking back of the gum from the tooth, which exposes part of the root. It can be caused by gum disease, brushing too hard or thin gum tissue.
  • plaqueA soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth every day. If brushing and cleaning between the teeth do not remove it, it leads to decay and gum disease.

More terms: Teeth and Oral Anatomy

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.