What Do Those Numbers Mean at the Dentist? A Simple Guide to Gum Health

If you’ve ever been in the dental chair while the hygienist calls out a rapid-fire list of numbers — “Two, two, three… one… three” — you’re not alone in wondering what on earth they’re measuring. Those numbers aren’t a secret code or a dental bingo game. They’re recording the health of your gums through a process called periodontal charting.

Dental hygienists call out the numbers so another team member or the dental software can record them. It may sound intense, but it’s simply a structured way to track gum health over time. They’re monitoring for:

• Gum recession

• Bone loss

• Inflammation

• Infection

• Areas that need more targeted cleaning

It’s the dental equivalent of routine blood pressure monitoring — preventative, straightforward, and incredibly important.

Let’s break it down.

What Is Periodontal Charting?

Periodontal charting is a standard part of oral health exams. The hygienist uses a tiny ruler (a periodontal probe) to measure the depth of the natural space between your tooth and your gum. This space is called a pocket, and the depth tells your dental team how well your gums are attached and whether there’s any sign of gum disease.

Each tooth gets six measurements — front, back, and sides — so the rapid stream of numbers is just your hygienist documenting all of those points.

What the Numbers Actually Mean

If your results are mostly 2s and 3s, with some 1s, you’re exactly where you want to be.

This range means:

• Your gums are firmly attached to your teeth.

• There’s no measurable bone loss.

• No active gum disease is present.

• Inflammation is minimal to nonexistent.

1 is excellent.
2 is standard healthy.
3 is still normal — just something they keep an eye on over time.

What would it mean if you have higher numbers?

4 is an early warning sign. Could indicate mild inflammation or gingivitis.
5–6: This is periodontal disease territory. The gums are detaching and there may be bone loss.
7+ indicates there are deep pockets requiring advanced periodontal treatment.

If you’re sitting in the 1–3 mm range, keep up whatever you’re doing. If you floss only when you remember (or when the guilt kicks in), consider making it a little more consistent — but clearly, you’ve got a solid foundation. If you don’t know what your numbers are, call the front desk at LifeSmile Dental Group to make an appointment today (or use the chat in the bottom right corner of your screen)!