Periodontal disease, more commonly referred to as “gum disease”, packs some serious consequences for your dental health and on the rest of your bod). In some of the worst cases, it is necessary to remove the teeth that are infected.
This disease affects nearly half of the adults in the United States. In fact, it is one of the most common reasons that people go to see the dentist. If you think you may have periodontal disease, it’s time to see the dental professionals at Dentrix Dental Care right away.
Here are some of the signs to look out for that may mean you have gum disease.
Your Gums Bleed
As you have probably heard many times at the dentist, your gums are bleeding because you don’t floss. Additionally, the habit of not flossing and brushing your teeth can lead to gum disease.
The main issue with this bleeding is that it can allow harmful bacteria from your mouth to travel around your body. Since there is a pathway for blood to come out into the mouth, it only makes sense that there is then room for harmful bacteria to travel into the blood.
This harmful bacteria enters the bloodstream and moves toward the heart to cause blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes.
Here are some of the stages of bleeding gums that you should look out for:
- Bleeding after or during brushing: This is when you spot blood on your toothbrush or floss. It shows that you’re doing the right thing, because your main goal is to disturb the plaque. Many people think they should stop if they see blood, but it’s actually quite important to keep going.
- More frequent bleeding: This is when your gums bleed when you’re not brushing or flossing. For example, bleeding while chewing. This shows that your symptoms are worsening.
- Bleeding on its own: This is when your gums bleed without a stimulus at all. This is a sign that your gums are progressing into serious disease.
- Gums turn to a deep red colour: Your gums are meant to be a light pink colour, but when periodontal disease takes hold, you will find that your gums turn a deep red colour. This means that your gums have very little oxygen, which means that troubling bacteria are likely being produced inside your mouth.
Gum Recession
If you have noticed that your teeth appear longer, it’s likely that you’re experiencing the effect of recession. Your teeth, of course, are not getting longer. It is actually that your gums receding from their original line.
Contrary to popular belief, gum recession is not just a normal part of aging. In fact, it can easily be avoided with proper care of your oral hygiene.
There are some important differences between gum pockets and recession, in fact.
- Gum pockets: are simply the space between the gums and the teeth. A normal, healthy range of space between the two is between 1 mm and 3 mm. Anything that is higher than that range is likely caused by gum disease.
- Gum recession: is the loss of gum tissue around the tooth that exposes the root. This means that your mouth is on the poor track of gum disease and needs immediate attention.
High Blood Sugar
If your blood sugar is high, you may be at risk of type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes are also much more likely to have fast progressing gum disease.
Here are some signs of high blood sugar to look out for:
- Increased thirst
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Trouble concentrating
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
Gum disease is treatable when it is identified as soon as possible. This is why it is important to keep a lookout for these tell-tale signs.
Visit our office to learn more about gum disease and whether you might be a candidate for treatment.