Gum disease is one of the most common oral diseases. If you can spot the early warning signs of gum disease, you have a much lower risk of developing advanced gum disease, known as periodontal disease or periodontitis. At Advance Dental, we’re always on the lookout for ways to promote preventative measures, and we’re keen for our patients to be mouth-aware. If you’re worried about gum disease, here are the signs you should be looking out for.
Spotting the early signs of gum disease
Gum disease in its mildest form, gingivitis, is relatively easy to treat but if you leave it be, it can quickly become more advanced. Severe cases of gum disease cause permanent damage to the gums and the supportive bone tissue lying beneath. The outcome of serious cases of gum disease is usually tooth loss. As a result, it’s hugely beneficial to be able to spot the early warning signs; these include:
- Bleeding when you brush
- Sore and painful gums
- Swollen gums
- Redness in the gums
In more advanced cases, you may also notice that you have an unpleasant taste in your mouth and your gums may be tender to touch.
When to see your dentist
If you think that there may be a chance that you have symptoms of gum disease, don’t put off seeing your dentist. Give us a call and we will schedule an appointment. It’s always best to get checked out, so don’t wait until your next check-up. If you have got symptoms, we can treat them and nip the problem in the bud before it results in complications that are much harder to treat. Call us today if you need an appointment or you’d like to find out more about gum disease prevention or treatment.
