Dental Professionals associate gum disease to fall under 3 stages:

Gingivitis

This is the first stage of gum disease. Some indications that you may have gingivitis may involve tender and some bleeding of your gums when you brush or floss. Gingivitis is reversible when corrective measures are undertaken. Some of these measures involve routine professional cleanings and proper brushing and flossing on a daily basis. Usually when the above measures are undertaken no bleeding or tenderness of the tissues should result.  This lack of bleeding and tenderness indicates that the gingivitis has been reversed back to a degree of health. Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis.

Periodontitis

This is considered the second stage of periodontal disease. At this stage plaque and tarter forms under the gums which is not accessible by brushing and flossing alone, and professional therapeutic methods need to be incorporated. Plaque and tarter causes an infection, which may damage the bone and the attachment of the gums to the teeth. You may notice that your gums start to pull away from the gums and more tenderness and bleeding may result. Proper dental care may involve tissue and root therapy or "deep cleanings" with the incorporation of other therapies depending on the involvement of the disease. Professional intervention is very important to prevent further damage of this disease. The first step involves a special deep cleaning or tissue and root therapy. This procedure helps gum tissue heal and periodontal pockets to shrink. A local anesthetic is often used to make you more comfortable. Usually, treatment occurs in one appointment. Sometimes antibiotics may be inserted under the gums to aid in healing of the gingival tissues. Also, a medication via a pill may be recommended to control infection or to aid in healing. A month after therapy an examination will determine if further treatment is required.

Advanced Periodontitis

In this final stage of gum disease, the bone and the attachment of the gums to the teeth has been destroyed. This may cause your teeth to shift or loosen and can affect how your teeth come together. You may notice a bad taste or smell in your mouth. Proper dental care must be initiated to save the teeth or they may need to be removed. Professional intervention may involve pocket reduction therapy and bone grafting along with the incorporation of other therapies.

Pocket reduction therapy is required when the gingival tissues have not resolved after initial treatment or tissue and root therapy. This is usually necessary when gingival tissues have not shrunk enough or when the supporting bone around the teeth has been lost. Since the gingival tissue have not shrunk they provide a greater place for bacteria to live and attack the bone and tissue causing further damage to occur.  Pocket reduction therapy turns or pulls back the gingival tissue and removes tartar and smoothes the roots so that the gingival tissue can reattach. Diseased tissue is also removed to allow the gingival tissue to heal. The gingival tissue is sutured back into place into a new position to make the gingival tissue snug around the tooth and aid in healing. Sometimes bone grafts may be necessary to correct for bony defects that occur around teeth and where roots divide to prevent loss of teeth.

Halitosis is bad or sour smelling breath. Bad breath can be acute (short term) or chronic (long term) depending on the cause. It may indicate the need to clean the teeth and mouth more often, tooth or gum disease, or intestinal disorders. Consult your dentist and/or physician if the condition persists.

• Brush and floss teeth regularly
• Clean and replace your toothbrush regularly
• Avoid mouthwashes with flavorings, dyes, and alcohol
• Avoid stress and seek out ways to relax and resolve stressful conditions in your life
• Get sufficient sunlight, exercise, and sleep
• Avoid spicy foods and those that leave residues or get stuck in the teeth (alcohol, cheese, meat, sweets)
• Chew parsley after meals, which is very rich in chlorophyll and serves as a natural mouthwash

Gum recession or root exposure is a disease or pathological process that is characterized by visible roots, sensitivity to cold or touch, and in extreme cases, loose teeth. Age is not a proven primary factor for gum recession. Significant concerns regarding root recession are as follows (least to most important):

• Cosmetics
• Tooth sensitivity to cold stimuli or touch 
• Loss of a “firm collar” of tissue around the neck of the tooth that functions as a protective mechanism for the underlying bone
• Root caries, or cavities in the roots 
• Permanent loss of bone support for the roots

Roots are porous in nature, much like a sponge. They have holes and tunnels in them, called tubules that accumulate food particles, by-products and bacteria when exposed. This invasion very rapidly results in loss of mineralization of the tooth, and cavities invade the root when it is exposed. A firm band of tissue called “attached tissue” is usually attached to a root and provides a cinching affect around the teeth, much like a tie around a neck, to protect foreign material from getting down between the teeth and gums and thus infecting the bone. This important protection is lost with gum recession. Therefore, when the bone is exposed to foreign materials, it recedes to protect itself along with the gum. This provides significant loss of bone support for the tooth that is permanent.  Bone loss usually cannot be replaced.

• Unusual sounds — Clicking, grinding or popping sounds when you open your mouth are common in people with TMD. The sounds may or may not be accompanied by pain. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, researchers believe that most people with popping or clicking in the jaw joint probably have a displaced disc. However, they also note that as long as the displaced disc causes no pain or problems with jaw movement, no treatment is needed.
• Locking or limited movement — The jaw joint is similar to a ball-and-socket joint except that the socket itself is movable. The jaw joint sometimes may lock in an open or closed position. You may have difficulty opening your mouth either because the joint is locked or because of pain.
• "Ear" pain — You may think you have an ear infection, but ear pain may be related to jaw joint inflammation or muscle tenderness. Pain from TMD is usually felt in front of or below the ear.
• Headaches — People with TMD often report headaches. Your dentist can help to determine if your specific headache symptoms are a result of TMD. In some situations, you may need to consult a physician to help diagnose and treat certain headaches not related to TMD.
• Morning stiffness or soreness — If your jaw muscles are stiff and sore when you wake up, it may by a sign that you are clenching or grinding your teeth in your sleep. Clenching or grinding teeth can exhaust jaw muscles and lead to pain.
• Difficulty chewing — You may have difficulty chewing as a result of a change in your bite—the way your upper and lower teeth fit together. This shift in your bite may be related to TMD.
• Previous injuries and related conditions — A recent injury to the jaw joint or one from many years past can lead to TMD symptoms. Arthritis in the joint also may arise from injury. Arthritis already affecting other joints may affect the jaw joint and lead to TMD.
• Others — Though the research is controversial, a feeling of fullness of the ears or ringing in the ears may sometimes be related to TMD. In these cases, consultation with an "ear, nose and throat" physician can help establish the final diagnosis.