When you think about your dental health, you probably think about your teeth. Though they are important, you shouldn’t forget about your gums, too. That pink tissue around your teeth is one of the gateways to your overall health.
Unhealthy gums are linked to a host of other medical problems like heart disease, infertility, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. But gum disease can strike quietly; if you don’t watch for the signs, your mouth could be headed for trouble!
These are the top five symptoms of gum disease (periodontitis) you should be on the lookout for:
- Bleeding gums when you brush or floss
- Swollen or sensitive gums
- Receding gums
- Loose teeth
- Change in your bite
Don’t Blame the Brush
When you experience bleeding gums after brushing your teeth, it’s not because of the toothbrush. The bacteria and toxins causing inflammation from plaque buildup are the cause of the bleeding. This is a very early sign of gum disease, or gingivitis. The solution is to floss and brush well to reverse it during the earliest stages.
Inflamed Gums
As you brush your teeth, you may notice that your gums are a little puffy at the area where they meet your teeth. Maybe they’re sensitive when you eat certain foods, or pieces of salad or fruit get caught under them.
Inflammation like this goes hand in hand with bleeding gums, and can be the first sign of an infection. You may also experience sores or pus with swollen gums. A salt water rinse may help here, as well, but for infection you really need Dr. Kherani’s assistance.
“Long in The Tooth”
If you start to notice your teeth looking longer, the problem really lies with your gums. When your gums become infected, they start to detach from the teeth. The bone also becomes infected, starting to shrink. As the tissues pull pack, they expose more of the root than what is healthy.
An appointment with Kherani Dental at Aspen will help determine how severe the problem is and which treatments you need to stop it from getting worse.
Wiggle Around
Loose teeth should only be for young children. As an adult, your teeth should rest snug and secure in your gums. But as your gums swell and recede, they get loose and may even move. The bacteria and toxins start to work on the connective tissues in your jaw, degrading the tendons and even the jawbone. Ultimately, it can lead to permanent tooth loss.
Bite Changes
Whether you have all your natural teeth or are wearing dentures, periodontal disease can cause a change in how your teeth and jaws fit together. With your teeth, they become loose, and move out of alignment with each other. Denture wearers may experience their bite changing as their bones lose density.
Whether you’re in the beginning or end stages of addressing gum disease, you need to make an appointment with Dr. Kherani for assessment and treatment. Root scaling and planing can remove the accumulated hardened calculus, while pocket reduction, gum grafts, and bone grafting may be able to reverse some of the more severe effects of periodontal disease.
Contact Kherani Dental at Aspen to schedule your next appointment!
