9 Signs of Gum Disease

Gum disease is a sneaky oral health condition that most people never notice until it has progressed significantly. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 47.2% of Americans over 30 years old and 70.1% of older adults of 65 years or more have gum disease.

Gum disease is typically the result of poor oral hygiene, which results in the buildup of infection-causing bacteria. Smoking, hormonal changes in women, and diabetes may also cause gum disease. Discover nine signs of gum disease to look out for.

1. Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums are an early sign of gum disease. Your gums may sometimes bleed during brushing or flossing if you injure them. But if you always bleed when brushing your teeth or flossing, you have some form of gum disease. In advanced stages of gum disease, they may stop bleeding.

2. Red and Swollen Gums

When a person has gum disease, bacteria buildup may irritate the gums, causing swelling. However, not all swollen gums or color changes in gums result from gum disease. Women's gums may become red due to hormonal changes during pregnancy. Your gums may also swell when you have something stuck in your teeth. These conditions should end after a while. But, if your gums are constantly inflamed, you likely have gum disease.

3. Bad Breath

Bad breath from gum disease is difficult to eliminate. Thus, if you have persistent bad breath despite your efforts to brush your teeth and tongue and chew on mints, you may have excess bacteria in your gums. Bad breath may also result from other dental health conditions; thus, have a dentist examine you to confirm the exact cause of your bad breath.

4. Receding Gums

Gum recession may occur when bacteria attack your gum tissue and jawbones. Your gums are receding if you have observed gaps between your teeth and gumline, and your teeth appear longer. You will also feel a notch near your gumline when you run your tongue over your gums. Receding gums expose the roots of the teeth to bacteria that may cause infections.

5. Tooth Sensitivity

If your gums have receded and left your dentin exposed, you will experience tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity manifests as pain whenever the air is too cold or when one eats ice cream or drinks cold beverages.

6. Loose Teeth

As gum disease wears down your teeth and supporting gum and bone tissues, your teeth will start to feel loose. Your teeth are loose if they wiggle when you touch them with your tongue. If you fail to seek timely treatment, gum disease may completely destroy the bone structure of the teeth, causing tooth loss.

7. Ill-Fitting Partial Dentures

As mentioned, gum disease wears down the supportive tissues of the teeth. So if you wear partial dentures, they may feel loose. Sometimes, you may also experience pain when wearing your dentures.

8. Puss and Sores

As gum disease progresses, you may notice visible signs of infection, such as puss-filled pustules. When the pustules burst, this can be painful, and you will feel puss draining into your mouth. Having sores draining puss into your mouth is not only uncomfortable but may feel unpleasant. Treatment from your dentists can get rid of this problem for good.

9. Difficult Chewing

If your teeth or partial dentures are loose, you will have a hard time chewing hard food. In severe cases of gum disease, your entire gumline may be affected, making chewing painful. Tooth sensitivity may also make it hard for you to eat hot food comfortably.

If you have any of the above symptoms, do not wait until you lose your teeth to go to the dentist. Contact us today to book a dental appointment in Baton Rouge, LA, if you suspect you have gum disease.