Do you notice redness when you brush or floss? Have your gums started receding, exposing vulnerable tooth roots?
These seemingly minor oral health issues affect more adults than you might think. Ignoring them can have severe consequences like loose teeth, infections, costly procedures, and even tooth loss.
Gum disease impacts nearly half of adults over thirty in the US, although most don’t realize it. Early symptoms like tender gums after flossing seem harmless.
However, without treatment, gum disease progresses silently, damaging tissues and jawbone until teeth become loose or fall out. Catching gum disease early is the key to reversing damage and preventing tooth loss.
Keep reading to learn about the signs and symptoms of gum disease!
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is inflammation and infection of the gums and bone-supporting teeth. Left untreated, it can lead to loose teeth, bite issues, tooth loss, and bone loss.
Gum disease starts with plaque buildup. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria on teeth from food and drinks.
If not removed by brushing and flossing, plaque hardens into tartar. Tartar below the gumline causes gum disease.
What Are the Stages of Gum Disease?
Gum disease has two stages: gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is mild gum inflammation, often from poor oral hygiene. Though gingivitis itself does not cause permanent damage, ignoring these initial warning signs allows plaque and bacteria to advance below the gumline.
This intensifying infection eats away at tissues and jawbone, progressing into a severe form of gum disease known as periodontitis. Catching problems in the gingivitis stage protects your smile.
With professional intervention and improved daily cleaning habits, you can reduce inflammation and future complications.
Symptoms of gingivitis include:
- Swollen, tender, red gums
- Bleeding when brushing/flossing
- Pink toothbrush after brushing
- Bad breath
Treating gingivitis can reverse symptoms and prevent progression to severe periodontitis. Treatment involves professional cleanings, resolving other dental issues, and diligent home care like brushing twice daily, daily flossing, and antiseptic mouthwash.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is a serious gum infection damaging tissue and tooth structures. It results from untreated worsening gingivitis.
This advanced stage of gum disease forms hardened plaque deposits, called calculus, on root surfaces below the gumline. Toxins from this buildup trigger chronic inflammation and infection, breaking down the tissues and bones that support teeth.
As the disease advances unchecked, deepening pockets form between gums and teeth. These infected spaces fill with even more bacteria and plaque, exacerbating damage.
Symptoms include those of gingivitis plus:
- Persistent bad breath
- Pus between teeth and gums
- Loose or lost teeth
- Painful chewing
- Black triangles between teeth
- Receding gums
- Misaligned bite
Unlike gingivitis, periodontitis causes irreversible damage.
What Treatments Are Available for Gum Disease?
Intensive treatment protects tooth, gum, and jawbone health. Treatments include:
Planing and Scaling
Removing plaque, tartar, and bacteria below gumlines and smoothing root surfaces to prevent further buildup. This helps gums reattach to teeth.
Antibiotics
Prescription anti-bacterial rinses, gels, or pills to control infections.
Referral to a Periodontist
Your dentist at Merry Dental might refer you to a gum disease specialist who can perform procedures like pocket reduction surgery, soft tissue grafts, and bone grafts to save natural teeth.
The best prevention is good oral hygiene and regular dental visits for early gum disease detection and treatment. This ensures your smile stays healthy long-term!
Are you noticing symptoms of gum disease? Schedule an appointment at Merry Dental in Billerica, MA, today!