What are the warning signs of gum disease?
• Gums that bleed easily • Red, swollen or tender gums • Gums that have pulled away from the teeth • Pus between the teeth and gums when the gums are pressed • Persistent bad breath or bad taste • Permanent teeth that are loose or separating • Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite • Any changes in the fit of partial dentures
bleeding gums during tooth brushing and flossing red, swollen or tender gums gums that have pulled away from the teeth persistent bad breath pus between the teeth and gums loose or separated teeth a change the way your teeth fit together when you bite What can cause gum disease? The main cause of gum disease is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth. In order to keep your teeth and gums healthy, daily cleaning is required in the form of brushing and flossing. If the plaque is not removed, it hardens into a rough, porous deposit called calculus, or tartar. Toxins (or poisons) produced by the bacteria in the plaque irritate the gums. The toxins destroy supporting tissues around the teeth. Gums then pull away from the teeth, forming pockets which then fill up with more plaque. As gum disease progresses, the pockets continue to become deeper and deeper.
Unfortunately, people can have gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) without knowing it! Be sure to tell your dentist if you have any of these signs: red, swollen gums, gums that bleed after brushing, loose teeth or constant bad breath. Periodontal disease may not feel painful and without prompt treatment can progress quickly. Periodontal disease affects about 5% of all adults and you may not experience any warning signs at all. If caught early, it can be treated in your family dental office without surgery.
Signs include red, swollen or tender gums, bleeding while brushing or flossing, gums that pull away from teeth, loose or separating teeth, pus between the gum and tooth, persistent bad breath, a change in the way teeth fit together when the patient bites and a change in the fit of dentures. While patients are advised to check for the warning signs, there might not be any discomfort until the disease has spread to a point where the tooth is unsalvageable. That’s why patients are advised to get frequent dental exams. What does periodontal treatment involve? In the early stages of gum disease, most treatment involves a special cleaning called scaling and root planning, which removes plaque and tartar around the tooth and smoothing the root surfaces. Antibiotics or antimicrobials may be used to supplement the effects of scaling and root planing. In most cases of early gum disease, called gingivitis, scaling and root planing and proper daily cleaning achieve a satisfactory result. More adva
