Gum disease may seem like a mild concern in the early stages. As this bacterial nightmare progresses, it takes a significant toll on your overall health. Ignoring red flags and skipping your dental exams and cleanings will have drastic consequences for your teeth, gums, jawbone and entire body.
When you brush and floss your teeth, you are cleaning away food particles and plaque. Plaque is a yellowish, sticky film that builds up on your teeth; it is formed from a mixture of bacteria and foods with sugar or starch. Proper oral hygiene gets rid of most plaque, but left unchecked, it hardens into tartar and leads to gum disease.
While the first stage of gum disease, gingivitis, is easily reversed, unchecked symptoms can worsen the problem, and you may not know what your mouth is trying to tell you. The Center for Dental Excellence in York and Hallam wants you to understand the warning signs of gum disease so that you have a better idea as to whether you should schedule an appointment for preventive dentistry services or periodontal treatment with our dentist.
1. Chronic Bad Breath
Halitosis, or bad breath, affects everyone, but most people can get rid of the unseemly smell through better oral hygiene or changing their diet. Bad breath that does not go away with brushing, flossing and rinsing or avoiding certain foods may indicate gum disease — especially if you have a residual bad taste in your mouth. That stench is likely caused by bacteria building up in the mouth and under the gum line.
2. Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity can have several causes, such as tooth decay or a damaged tooth, but gum disease is another culprit. Your teeth are left vulnerable to certain drinks, foods and actions when the gums have receded to the point where the tooth root is exposed. Fluoride treatments, special toothpaste, gum grafting and other dentistry options can improve tooth sensitivity, but you must address gum disease first.
3. Bleeding Gums
Gums that are inflamed, red and/or bleeding are likely in the first stage of gum disease. The longer plaque and tartar sit, the more harmful they become for your oral and overall health. When plaque builds up at the gumline, it irritates the tissues and burrows beneath the gums. A dental exam and cleaning can help eradicate the gingivitis stage of gum disease and restore healthy tissue. Bleeding gums is a larger issue than many people realize because researchers believe bacteria from the mouth spreads through the bloodstream, putting your heart at risk.
4. Receding Gums and Pockets Under the Teeth
As the plaque and tartar accumulate beneath the gum line, they create spaces for bacteria to spread and pull away from the teeth to form pockets. A dental cleaning and better oral hygiene may reverse the initial signs of receding gums. Still, these pockets are a red flag that gum disease is advancing to “periodontitis,” which puts more than your gums in jeopardy. Advanced gum disease causes bone degradation and tooth loss.
5. Loose Teeth
If inflamed, bleeding gums are left alone, the bacteria pushes your body to react with more inflammation and enzymes designed to fight back. Worsening gum disease causes the bone and connective tissues that lock your teeth in place to degrade and loosen. The pockets near your teeth deepen and pull away from the teeth even more, causing loose teeth. This stage requires periodontal treatment through deep cleaning, prescription mouthwash, antibiotics and maybe surgery to prevent losing one or more teeth.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact Gordon Bell, DDS at the Center for Dental Excellence to schedule an exam and cleaning as soon as possible.