It sounds like you may have first-stage periodontitis, a gum disease. Gargle with salt water. Floss gently. Brush your teeth and the very top of your gums with a soft toothbrush and brush very gently, always on the vertical, NEVER horizontal. Get to a dentist now. You most likely need a deep cleaning. Also, if you are a smoker and even though I know it is really, really hard, you should quit. Smoking actually thins out your gums and contributes to gum disease and gum recession. More people lose teeth to gum disease than they do to cavities. Oh, and to clarify -- You can and should gently brush your teeth themselves using a circular motion, then alternate from the top of your gum where the gum and teeth meet with a vertical stroke on every tooth. Again, never horizontal. Nothing vertical on your actual gums. Use Listerine or a product like this. Floss under the gums, but GENTLY.