Do you know that gum disease can be a life threatening condition if it’s left untreated? Left undiagnosed and untreated, gum disease can spread to other parts of the body.
If this happens, your chances of other life threatening problems increase, such as:
- Stroke
- Heart Attack
- Diabetes
- Premature Birth
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Respiratory Disease
- Digestive Disorders
Signs of Gum Disease and Periodontal Disease
- Bleeding, swollen, or red gums— These are three signs of gingivitis (the first stage of periodontal disease). You will notice blood when brushing and flossing. You will also notice the gums appearing as a dark red instead of a healthy pink color. If caught early on, gingivitis is reversible with treatments such as antibiotics or planing and scaling.
- Receding gums— It can be a bad sign if your gums are pulling away from the teeth, as well as if there are gaps between your teeth and gums. This can produce sensitivity since the gums are no longer providing protection to the tooth root. Along with sensitivity, receding gums can cause the teeth to become loose. If the situation is severe, grafting surgery may be needed to replace the lost gum tissue.
- Chronic bad breath— Bacteria causes bad breath. If the gums become infected, that means bacteria is present.
- Sensitive gums— The gums will become sensitive to touch over a period of time.
If gum disease is not caught early on, the condition may progress to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease requires extra care and treatment. Classic signs of periodontal disease include:
- loose teeth
- receding gums
- swollen gums
- inflamed gums
- purple or bright red gums
- pus appearing between the gum line and teeth (called pyorrhea)
- persistent bad taste in your mouth
- mouth sores
- changes in the way your teeth fit together when biting down
- spaces between the teeth that develop over time
Periodontal Disease Treatment and Diagnosis at Lifetime Smiles
It is better to be safe than sorry. Get checked today for periodontal disease and gum disease. Dr. Forester at Lifetime Smiles can do that for you.
As a matter of fact, it is recommended to visit the dentist once every six months. By doing so, Dr. Forester and our hygienists can keep an eye out for early warning signs of gum disease. It is much better to treat it early on rather than waiting until you experience unpleasant symptoms.
At our office, we offer non-surgical, non-invasive periodontal disease treatment. If you have early signs of this disease, we can help. We can provide proper treatment based on the progression of periodontal disease.