Symptoms of Gum Disease

Imagine one morning, you are casually brushing your teeth and suddenly see blood dripping onto the sink. That bleeding may be the first sign of periodontitis or gum disease. The milder variety is known as gingivitis, where only the gums get infected. However, if left untreated, it can push the infection below the gumline and right into your bone, making the condition more serious. Once the gum disease moves to the last stage, it is then untreatable and can only be managed.

Both gum diseases like periodontitis and gingivitis are likely to raise the risk of physical ailments like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, pneumonia, and osteoporosis.

What Is It?

In gum disease, bacteria attack the tissues that hold your teeth intact. It is caused by below-par brushing habits and lack of flossing that form a sticky film of plaque over the tooth’s surface. In a more advanced condition, gum disease can lead to tooth loss and painful chewing problems.

What Causes Gum Disease?

When our mouths are not appropriately brushed during cleaning, they can form a sticky layer of plaque that gets stuck on the surface of the tooth and hardens. Only a professional deep cleaning by our expert hygienists can remove the “tartar” from the tooth.

There are quite a few risk factors for gum diseases, and the most significant one out of them is smoking. Frequent smoking can also hinder the process of gum treatment. Other major cause factors are hormonal changes in females, diabetes: as the medications lessen the flow of saliva, genetic susceptibility, and other diseases such as AIDS.

The Symptoms

Many symptoms of gum disease hinder everyday functioning for individuals. Firstly, the mouth stinks of bad breath that does not go away even after brushing. The gums become swollen and bleed frequently. The simple action of chewing becomes painful, and teeth become loose. The gums also recede, making your teeth appear longer.

Diagnosis

Once you visit the office, our doctor will first look into your gums to make out for any inflammation spots. Then they will conduct a small test for gum pockets with a tiny rule called “probe” and measure the depths around the teeth. In a healthy oral condition, these pockets measure between 1 and 3 millimeters.

Our dentist may also suggest an x-ray to check for bone loss and refer you to a periodontist if needed. Our periodontists are experts in treating gum diseases and may provide you with options best suited to your condition.

Treatment And Tips

The primary purpose of treatment is to control the bacteria from spreading further. The treatment type varies according to the extent of the disease. Every treatment option requires patients to keep daily care at home. Our doctor may also suggest changing specific behavioral patterns such as quitting smoking to improve treatment results further.

You can lessen the chances of inflammation if you incorporate brushing twice daily in your routine. Visiting our office Dr. Behnaz Yalda, DMD for routine check-ups and professional cleaning is also essential. Contact us at (240) 831-6001 today and book your live consultation.