What are signs of gum disease?

Gum disease is for all practical purposes painless. It will sneak up on you and unless you check out your gums in the mirror you can have gum disease and really never know it. In fact, 47% of American adults over the age of 30 are guilty of exactly that. They have some level or stage of gum disease and don’t really know it. What are some signs to look for and what even causes gum disease?

What causes gum disease to begin with?

If you are guilty of not being very consistent with taking care of your teeth then you had best start looking in the mirror at your gums. By not brushing a sticky substance called plaque immediately sits on your teeth. Plaque carries bacteria. At any given time a healthy mouth will have one to two million bacteria present. With the increase of the presence of plaque that number can grow to 10 to 20 million. Bacteria causes infection and disease. So when that plaque is allowed to come in contact with the gums they immediately become infected.

What are the first signs?

The first stage or level of gum disease is called gingivitis. The signs are subdued. Your gums make get slightly darker in color, they may become ever so slightly tender and you may have frequent bad breath or notice a bad taste in your mouth. If diagnosed at this level the disease is quickly reversed.

The second stage of gum disease is called periodontitis. Irreversible damage can take place if the disease is allowed to advance to this point. Your signs now are that your gums begin to look swollen and will begin to bleed. Your gums will also begin to pull away from your teeth creating pockets. These pockets can easily trap food particles and accelerate the disease quicker. You may also notice a tooth becoming loose and at this level you could experience bone loss with the roots of your teeth.

How do you treat gum disease?

At either level the first and foremost treatment is serious teeth cleaning. Your dentist will patiently scrape and scale all the plaque from your teeth. Then depending on the severity of the disease the plaque needs to be scaled from the enamel below the gum line. If advanced the scaling and root planning may need to be done surgically. Once the bacteria carrying plaque is removed the soft tissue will heal in a few days.

Prevention?

You are in control of your own destiny when it comes to gum disease. If you follow the health industries suggestions of brushing twice a day for at least two minutes each time you will go a long way in removing plaque daily and therefore never experiencing gum disease. You should also floss once a day to get those hard to reach areas between your teeth. Another great habit is to see your dentist twice a year for regular evaluations. In addition to identifying any oral problems they will always professionally clean your teeth and send you home with a new toothbrush. Be proactive!

More on Gum Disease : Treatments for Gum Disease