Sounds like you may have periodontal disease, which can easily be treated. See your dentist for a cleaning. You may also need deep gum scaling, which cleans plaque down near the roots. This is usually the cause of periodontal disease although occasionally it can be kind of a side effect of other illnesses. But it's probably not cancer. Still, if you don't take care of it, your teeth will eventually become loose and could actually fall out, so don't delay in getting to a dentist.

Meanwhile, good brushing/flossing will help, and you may also want to rinse your mouth with a solution of hydrogen peroxide (one capful to a 4-oz glass of water). Swish it around your teeth after you've brushed and flossed.

Ruth