When your gums bleed, it’s natural to feel worried, especially if it happens often. It can be tricky for most patients to identify the signs of a dental condition. In this post, learn when to take early warning signs seriously and how you can tell these signs leads to periodontal disease.
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease or gum disease is a serious gum infection where the bacteria can damage the surrounding tissues and bone structure that holds your teeth. It is the progressive stage of untreated gingivitis, where gum irritation is initiated by plaque or tartar buildup between the teeth and the gums.
The early stage of periodontal disease is gum inflammation or gingivitis. It happens when the plaque irritates the gums and causes them to bleed, and triggers inflammation. Gingivitis can still be treated with thorough teeth cleaning and fluoride treatments.
However, if gingivitis is left untreated and not diagnosed as soon as possible, it can progress to periodontal disease. Once it becomes periodontal disease, your condition becomes a point of no return and will require lifelong periodontal treatments. Gum disease also puts you at risk for health problems and chronic diseases like heart diseases and diabetes.
Early warning signs of gum disease
Check out the following early warning signs of periodontal disease and visit your dentist immediately if you experience any or most of them.
- Swollen gums: What makes periodontal disease a sneaky disease is when your swollen gums are not painful and often go unnoticed. The inflammation is triggered by plaque and tartar in your teeth.
The plaque buildup in your teeth is a combination of starch from the food you eat and a ton of disease-causing bacteria.
There are other possible causes of gum irritation or inflammation. These include aggressive brushing and flossing and medication side effects. You should take your swollen gums seriously and visit the dentist immediately when it looks bright red and bleeds easily when brushed.
- Gum bleeding: Bleeding gums are serious signs of periodontal disease and should not be taken lightly. Though, it’s natural for gums to bleed when it’s your first time to develop a flossing routine.
The bleeding should only last for a couple of minutes to an hour or two. Persistent bleeding gums are a clear indication of a dental condition and must be checked by your dentist as soon as possible.
- Painful chewing: The three common reasons why your teeth hurt when you chew: tooth decay, tooth abscess, and sore gums. Either of the three reasons, consult your dentist immediately to save your tooth and gums from getting worse.
- Receding gums: If you notice that your teeth look longer than usual, your gums are more likely pulling back and exposing the tooth roots. As your gum recedes, it creates more space in the gums where bacteria can infiltrate the gums. Thus, making you more susceptible to tooth infections and periodontal disease.
Gum recession is probably one of the most obvious signs of periodontal disease.
Most dental professionals consider periodontal diseases as a silent killer. It’s an irreversible disease and has been linked to several chronic diseases. The good thing is you can still have a chance to prevent periodontal disease by having good oral hygiene visiting your dentist twice a year for professional cleaning.
Soft Touch Dental provides preventive dental treatment in Florissant and its neighboring communities. Let our team take care of your oral health by scheduling an appointment today.