Many people are focused on keeping their teeth healthy and clean but neglect the health of their gums. Did you know that almost half of the American adults have periodontitis? The risk increases to 70.1% as the person reaches 65 years and older. Gum disease is also a common type of mouth disease and worse, they are often painless, making it less noticeable. In fact, you might already be suffering from gum disease and you still don’t know it. So, what is gum disease? It occurs when the gums of the mouth are infected; which can affect the bone supporting the teeth if treatment is delayed. There are three stages starting from gingivitis, periodontitis and the worst stage called advanced periodontitis.
Gum disease is a chronic condition but is curable, especially when diagnosed early. So, what are the symptoms of gum disease that you have to watch out for? Here are 5 signs you need to take note of:
- Swollen and bleeding gums
A healthy gum should not bleed when you are brushing or flossing your teeth. Bleeding gums and inflammation is a sign that there is something wrong with your gums. This condition is called gingivitis. It can be very painful and uncomfortable. Plaque building up on your teeth is thriving with bacteria, they will attack the tissues on your gums causing inflammation and bleeding.
- Gum recession
Most of us have our permanent teeth fully grown by the time we reach 12-13 years old… and they will not continue to grow longer as you grow older. If you feel like your teeth seem to appear longer, perhaps you are brushing your teeth too hard or you are using a hard bristle toothbrush. Or it could be that the gums surrounding your teeth are receding away. Gum recession is one of the warning signs that you have to watch out for as it could mean gum disease is developing.
- Tooth sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is the result of worn-out tooth enamel exposure to dentin or gum recession. During the gum recession, the infection in the gums wears out the tissues surrounding your teeth until it exposes the root. When this happens, you will feel pain or discomfort whenever you eat hot or cold foods. Aside from that, when the root of your teeth is exposed, the risk of getting tooth decay and infection becomes higher.
- Constant bad breath
All of us probably had experienced having a bad breath. We deal with it by brushing our teeth or using mouthwash. However, there are cases where bad breath continues to persist no matter what. If you have persistent bad breath, this could be a sign that you have tooth decay or gum disease. The bacteria from your gum disease causes bad breath which cannot be treated by a simple mouthwash or toothbrush.
- Pus in between the teeth
Pus or abscess in between your teeth is something that you should be worried about. The pus is caused by bacteria thriving in your gums. You need to drain out the pus and have it in the affected area treated to prevent inflammation in the surrounding gums which can be very painful.
If you get these signs, pay your dentist a visit right away to get proper treatment before it can quickly progress and give you a more serious problem in the future.
