Some Signs of Gum Disease

The American Academy of Periodontology state that over 47% of Americans over the age of 30 have some form of gum disease. That is because there is no pain involved to alert us of pending problems. The primary cause of gum disease is simply bad oral hygiene. In a society today of rushing everywhere we are all guilty of skipping brushing our teeth and just don’t have time to floss. Therein lies the problem.

Levels of Gum Disease

There is a deliberate progression. At first you will experience gingivitis, which is an inflammation of the gums, the soft tissue that surrounds your teeth and bones. This is all caused by a buildup on your teeth of plaque. A sticky substance that carried bacteria, you can prevent this from happening by simply brushing your teeth well twice a day and flossing in between your teeth at least once a day. Once the plaque builds up the bacteria will begin to infect the gums. The progression is when left unattended the plaque will become a mineralized harder substance now called tartar. Now serious damage will begin. This level of the disease is called periodontitis.

The Warning Signs of Gum Disease

Since it is usually painless it is important to pay attention to any possible warning signs. The first one would be a pink tinge on your toothbrush. This would suggest that your gums are inflamed, irritated and just starting to bleed ever so slightly. The next level would be to look in the mirror and identify if your gums are redder than normal, if they are swollen or even becoming tender to the touch. A sign that is easily identifiable is that of bad breath. If you friends and family say something, and it persists, that is an indicator. Or if you yourself notice a lingering bad taste in your mouth. If you see that your gums are pulling away from your teeth. They are receding and creating a gap. This is an important sign. When you bite down and it feels like you have a loose tooth, or even if it feels like your teeth don’t fit together properly in your bite pattern. These are serious symptoms and signs.

How to Treat Gum Disease

If you have any of the signs listed above you just need to get ahold of your dentist and schedule an appointment for an evaluation. Your dentist can immediately do a professional teeth cleaning to remove that bacteria carrying plaque and tartar. Depending on the progression and stage of the gum disease this might be accomplished in one visit or it might take several if the cleaning needs to get down below the gum line and remove the damaging material on the roots of your teeth. Gum disease can be prevented by following the suggestions of the health industry. Brush your teeth well twice and day and floss as well. The flossing is an important addition, it actually removes plaque between the teeth and even allows you to get to the gum line. Take care of your teeth!

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