Common Symptoms of Gum Disease To Watch Out For

Gum disease can impact both your teeth and your overall health. Did you know that gum disease can weaken your immune system and increase your risk of suffering from heart disease later? Even if you brush your teeth and floss several times a day, you may develop gum disease. Looking for warning signs that you have gum disease could let you know when you should speak to the team at Patriot Family Dental.

Causes of Gum Disease

Knowing the causes of gum disease can help you learn how you can prevent it. The leading cause is a buildup of bacteria inside the mouth. The average human mouth holds around 700 different bacteria strains and that means that most people have millions of live bacteria in their mouth at any given time. 
These bacteria aid in various functions, such as helping you break down the food that you eat and keeping your mouth safe from infections. Bad bacteria can lead to plaque developing in your mouth and can wear down the enamel on your teeth. The buildup of plaque and tartar can also cause tooth loss or decay and often leads to gum disease.

6 Warning Signs Related to Gum Disease

1. Bleeding Gums

A small amount of blood should not concern you. It can indicate that you used too much pressure while brushing or that you have sensitive teeth. Bleeding gums become a concern when you see the problem every time you brush or fairly often. This is a warning sign that you have gum disease and is a symptom you should talk with your dentist about at your next appointment.

2. Changes to Your Gums

The next time you brush your teeth, take a moment to look in the mirror and smile. Pay special attention to your gums. Healthy gums are soft pink and touch the teeth. Diseased gums often appear bright pink or red and suffer from inflammation. You can also try touching your gums with your fingers or toothbrush. Does the sensation of anything touching your gums cause you pain? Painful and/or tender gums are a warning sign of gum disease. Regular dental appointments are important, because changes to your gums can also indicate the presence of an infection.

3. Bad Breath

Many people worry about how their breath smells. They use everything from gum and mouthwash to mints and breath fresheners. While it is true that you may experience bad breath because of a pungent meal or because you forgot to brush in the morning, persistent bad breath that you cannot control is a sign of gum disease. During the early stages of gum disease, the smell might be much weaker but as the disease progresses, it could become more and more difficult to get rid of the odor.

4. Loose Teeth

As an adult, there are few things worse than finding you have a loose tooth. You expect to lose milk teeth as a kid but once you become an adult, you expect to have your permanent teeth for the rest of your life. If you have gum disease though, you may find that you have one or more loose teeth. As the disease progresses, your gums begin pulling back or receding, which weakens the structure around your tooth. The tooth may feel loose and could even fall out with the slightest bit of pressure!

5. Receding Gums

One of the biggest warning signs of gum disease is receding gums. Healthy gums butt right up against your teeth. Inflammation and illness can cause your gums to pull back from your teeth. You'll commonly see receding gums right between your canines. When you examine your front teeth in a mirror, look at the placement of your gums. If they dip low enough that you can see the bottom of your teeth, you likely have gum disease. If you have gum disease, you may also notice that the top of your gums is a different color than the bottom.

6. Bite Changes

Strong and healthy teeth can conquer the hardest of ingredients without missing a beat. During the early stages of gum disease, you'll likely notice that your bite changes. Those changes can worsen as the disease spreads. Those suffering from gum disease often find that they cannot bite and chew as well as they did before because their teeth are loose and shift around. Severe gum disease can even change the way you talk, which may affect your self-esteem.

When Do Symptoms Present?

A big question that patients have is when they will experience the symptoms of gum disease. There is no single answer for all patients, though. While some may experience symptoms at the first sign of gum disease, others may wait months before they notice any changes. It is advisable to schedule a comprehensive dental exam at least twice a year or once every six months so your dentist can look for early warning signs and treat your gum disease. Regular checkups can ensure that your dentist notices the warning signs of gum disease even before you notice them.

Types of Gum Disease

One thing to keep in mind is that there are different types of gum disease, of which gingivitis is the most common. It causes your gums to swell and can make them feel sore to the touch. Fortunately, gingivitis is easy to treat—especially during the early stages. Peritonitis is a more serious condition because it affects both the visible areas of your teeth and those hidden below your gum line. This condition can cause pockets of pus to form inside your mouth and increase your risk of developing serious infections.

Periodontitis is an aggressive form of gum disease that usually progresses more rapidly than other types. This condition can lead to the loss of tissue in your mouth as well as your teeth. With chronic periodontitis, you may have more time to act and seek help because it spreads slowly. This condition can lead to you losing one or more of your teeth as well as tissue and bone. Speaking with a dentist is the best way to find out if you have gum disease, and if you do, what type it is. This is very important to decide on the best course of treatment.

Long-Term Effects

Many patients think that they can care for their gum disease at home. Once you look at the serious long-term effects though, you'll understand why you need a dentist. There is a link between gum disease and heart disease in that suffering from gum disease can increase your heart attack risk. Your risk of having a stroke or respiratory issues also increases with prolonged untreated gum disease. There are also links between diabetes and these conditions. If you are a diabetic, gum disease can weaken your immune system and make it harder for you to control your blood sugar.

Can You Prevent Gum Disease?

You can prevent gum disease with regular dental checkups. It's also equally important to take care of your mouth in between appointments. This means brushing and flossing multiple times a day. While brushing removes bacteria from your teeth and gums, flossing removes bacteria between your teeth. You should also follow a healthy diet and cut back on sugary snacks. If you smoke or vape, you should cut back or stop at the earliest.

Gum Disease Treatments

There are a few different treatments to help those struggling with gum disease. One option is deep cleaning. Technicians use ultrasonic equipment to reach deep between your teeth and target bacteria that are invisible to the naked eye. You can often schedule a deep cleaning during an upcoming appointment or outside of your regular checkups. Custom trays can also help. This allows the dentist to fit a custom tray to your mouth and add a medicated gel inside. When you wear the tray, the gel reaches deep inside your mouth to kill germs and bacteria. You may also want to talk to Patriot Family Dental about tooth extractions as severe neglect of gum disease may require the removal of one or more teeth.

Treat Gum Disease in Clarksville

Gum disease has serious effects on your health in both a short and long term. It can increase your risks of developing other conditions and weaken your immune system. When left untreated, gum disease can damage or destroy one or more of your teeth, too. At Patriot Family Dental, we offer solutions no matter what stage of gum disease you have. Give us a call today to book an appointment!