Gum disease is also known as periodontal disease – the inflammation of your gums.
There are different ways in which your gums can be affected.
Gingivitis
This is a common and mild form of gum disease that causes irritation, redness and swelling of your gingiva—the part of your gum around the base of your teeth. The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene.
Other causes include smoking, dry mouth and older age.
The symptoms include:
Swollen or puffy gums
Dusky red or dark red gums
Gums that bleed easily when you brush or floss
Bad breath
Receding gums
Tender gums
If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to gum disease that spreads to underlying tissue and bone and can result in a much more serious condition that can lead to tooth loss.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is more serious and complicated than gingivitis. It is caused by bacteria that have been allowed to accumulate on your teeth and gums. As periodontitis progresses, your bones and teeth can be damaged. However, if treated early, the damage can be stopped.
Periodontitis starts as gingivitis and progresses into more severe conditions. In the early stages of periodontitis, your gums recede, or pull away, from your teeth and small pockets form between gums and teeth. The pockets harbour harmful bacteria. If left to progress to moderate periodontal disease, you might experience bleeding and pain around the teeth and gum recession. As your teeth begin to lose bone support, they will loosen.
The symptoms depend on the stage of periodontitis, but generally, include:
– Gums that bleed when you brush your teeth or floss
– Bad breath
– Changes in the position of your teeth or loose teeth
– Receding gums
– Red, tender, or swollen gums
– Build-up of plaque or tartar on your teeth
– Pain when chewing
– Tooth loss
– Foul taste in your mouth
– Inflammatory response throughout your body
Preventing gum disease
The good news is that gum disease is completely preventable! It’s as easy as brushing your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes at a time.
Flossing your teeth once a day will also help to prevent gum disease.
The catch when it comes to gum disease is that it is usually not detectable in the early stages. Well, that is without the trained eye of a dentist!
Scheduling regular check-ups with your dentist will help to spot and treat gum disease in the early stages. If you are in the early stages of gum disease, your dentist will also be able to help you effectively treat it.
Keep those gums healthy and book your routine check-up with Aesthetic Laser Dentistry today.
