Symptoms of Gum Disease Gum disease is a serious oral health condition that can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums if left untreated. Fortunately, gum disease is a slow-developing condition, which gives you time to take action. For this reason, it is important that you know the signs of gum disease so that you can take action early and improve the results of your treatment.Our professionals at Willamette Valley Periodontics can not only help treat gum disease if you develop it, but they can also provide guidance and education about this condition during your regular oral exams. Our team wants to empower you to take control of your oral health so that you can make the best decisions regarding your care. Part of this process involves understanding gum disease. What Are the Early Symptoms?The early symptoms of gum disease are very mild but pretty easy to notice. Most patients will begin experiencing an increased amount of sensitivity or bleeding in their gums. If you already experience occasional bleeding when flossing, this is likely a natural occurrence. However, the inflammation caused by gum disease can make this occur more often. In addition, if your gums develop a puffy appearance, this is a sign that they are likely inflamed. Another common symptom of gum disease is discoloration in your gum line. This discoloration may cause your gums to appear more white than normal or could even include visible signs of infection, like sores or pus. What Are the Advanced Symptoms?As gum disease worsens, so can your symptoms. The long-term effects of infected gums will cause your gum tissue to weaken or even die. If treatment is not started at this stage, your gums will begin to recede due to the loss of tissue. Receding gums means that your teeth are exposed to more bacteria and do not benefit from the added stability of your gums. Gum disease also increases your risk of developing tooth decay. This is due in part to the recession of your gums. The loss of gum tissue will also cause a loss of bone density in your jawbone. The worst and final stage of gum disease will result in the loss of your teeth. How Does Gum Disease Cause Tooth Loss?Your gums and the alveolar ridge, which is the jawbone that extends up into your gum line, are vital in keeping your teeth healthy and strong. Unfortunately, these structures are also damaged as gum disease progresses, which makes your teeth far less secure. Eventually, the combination of inflamed, damaged gums and a weakened jawbone will cause these teeth to completely dislodge from your mouth. While our team is capable of treating all stages of gum disease, you will require substantial interventions once tooth loss begins. Our team can no longer simply address the bacteria and inflammation but must also perform grafts to repair the damaged gum and bone structures in your mouth. If you have noticed any of the above symptoms of gum disease or are simply overdue for a cleaning and ready to get established with a caring and skilled dental team, our professionals at Willamette Valley Periodontics can help. You can schedule your appointment by calling our office at (971) 261-1926 today. |
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