If you have recently noticed some changes in your mouth and you haven’t visited the dentist in a while, it is best for you to get checked up as soon as possible. Millions of people are diagnosed with gum disease, sometimes called periodontal diseases, each day, and it is important that you address the issue immediately. There is a wide range of gum diseases; it could be anything from simple gum inflammation to a serious disease that will cause you to lose your teeth. How bad your disease gets often depends on how the issue is addressed. You must be able to recognize the signs of gum disease to deal with the situation effectively.
Some Symptoms of Gum Disease
There are many symptoms of gum disease that you may experience, so you need to know all of them to recognize the problem right away. Here are the most common symptoms:
- You have bad breath, and it won’t go away
- Your gums are red and swollen
- Your gums are feeling tender or they are bleeding
- It is painful to chew food
- Your teeth become loose
- Your teeth are more sensitive than normal
- Your gums begin to recede or your teeth appear to become longer
These common symptoms often lead to one of the most diagnosed mouth diseases.
Gingivitis
This is one of the most common forms of gum disease and also one of the more mild diseases. When plaque and tartar sit on the teeth for long periods of time, it begins to affect your gums in a negative way. The bacteria in this causes inflammation of the gums, which is what we know as gingivitis. This disease can usually be reversed by daily brushing, daily flossing and visiting a dentist to be cleaned regularly.
If gingivitis is left untreated, it will likely lead to the gums developing periodontitis. This is a more advanced form of gingivitis, and it leads to the gums pulling away from the teeth and forming spaces that become infected. When your immune system starts to fight the bacteria as the plaque spreads, bacterial toxins will begin to erode the bone and connective tissues that hold your teeth in place. This will eventually lead to you losing your teeth.
Some Are More Likely to Develop Gum Disease
As with many other diseases, some people are more likely than others to develop gum disease based on their daily habits. These are some of the risk factors that lead to an increased chance of developing gum disease:
- Smokers have a much higher chance of developing gum disease
- Hormonal changes in women often make their gums more sensitive
- People with diabetes are at a greater chance to develop an infection
- If you have a disease like cancer or AIDS, your weakened immune system may increase your chance of developing gum disease
- Medications that decrease the flow of saliva in your mouth will make you more vulnerable to developing gum disease
- Some people are more prone to gum disease than others based on family history of gum disease
If you notice any changes in your mouth, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately. Embassy Dental also notes, however, that you can easily prevent gum disease by taking proper care of your mouth each day. This means brushing your teeth, flossing after you eat food and chewing sugar-free gums that help to clean your mouth. Take care of your mouth so that you can keep that beautiful smile shining for the rest of your life. Learn more from this CNN article about making it happen.
