If you want to keep your smile healthy and beautiful for a long time, you really have to take care of your gum tissue. Periodontal disease is actually the leading cause of tooth loss among adults, but few people realize how dangerous gum disease can be.
Our Novato gum disease dentist encourages every patient to seek treatment for periodontal disease as soon as it occurs. Timely treatment greatly improves the patient’s long-term prognosis.
Gum Disease Symtoms to Look For
Here are some of the common signs of gum disease, so that you can easily identify if/when gum disease occurs in your own mouth.
- Bleeding gum tissue: when your gum tissue becomes infected, it will be more sensitive and fragile. Patients suffering from gum disease usually notice bleeding gums when they brush, floss, or eat abrasive foods.
- Red/swollen gum tissue: even if your gums are not bleeding, you may notice that your gum tissue appears puffed up and red (rather than a healthy pale pink). Your gum tissue appears red and swollen because your body is trying to fight the oral infection in your mouth.
- Bad breath: the same bacteria that cause gum disease emit unpleasant odors when they grow and multiply. Thus, people with gum disease suffer from bad breath that is especially hard to treat and neutralize.
- Receding gum tissue: as gum disease advances, you may notice that your gum tissue begins to pull away from your teeth and bone tissue. Eventually gum tissue recedes to such an extent that the patient suffers from periodontal pockets—pockets of gum tissue that are prone to collecting dental debris and oral bacteria.
If you notice any of the above symptoms of gum disease in your own smile, please do not hesitate to contact our Novato Gum Disease Dentist. The sooner you receive the treatment you need, the faster you can enjoy your rejuvenated healthy smile!