Signs of Gum Disease
The signs of gum disease are often silent. Since this is the case, you should pay close attention to the subtle changes that may be taking place in your mouth. There are warning signs and action needs to be taken when they occur.
Some signs of gum disease
- You may notice some bleeding when you eat hard foods, floss or brush your teeth.
- The gums may appear swollen and/or tender.
- There can be pain in your mouth when brushing.
- The gums may begin to recede. They will pull away from each tooth and the teeth will appear longer than in the past.
- Teeth can become loose.
- New spaces can appear between your teeth.
- Bad breath is prominent.
- There can be pus between your teeth and gums.
- Sores can appear in your mouth.
- You may notice your teeth meet differently when chewing or biting.
- If you have a partial denture, it may become ill fitting.
Risk factors need to be considered when there are signs of gum disease. Some of the risk factors include:
You age plays an a roll in developing periodontal disease. As we age, the risk increases. It is important to maintain excellent oral hygiene as we age.
There may be a genetic difference in the occurrence of gum disease. Women generally take better care of their teeth. However, the hormonal changes that occur during a woman’s lifetime can cause increasing signs of gum disease.
Bleeding gums are usually the first thing many people notice in their mouth. This alerts the person to the fact that there is a problem. Smokers may not have bleeding gums.
As gum disease progresses the teeth can become loose. This will damage the surrounding tissue to the point of having teeth fall out.
How do your teeth look? If they seem longer, it can be the beginning signs of gum disease.
Smoking is a significant risk for gum disease. Calculus forms more easily in the mouth of a smoker. They will lose more bone due to the deeper crevices between teeth and gums.
Flossing must be an important part of your oral hygiene. If you are not flossing twice daily and not have your teeth cleaned professionally twice each year, you increase your risk. Professional cleaning will remove the calculus from the areas in your mouth that the toothbrush and floss cannot reach.
If you have diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis or have a great amount of stress, you are increasingly at risk of having signs of gum disease.
Some research has suggested that gum disease can be passed through saliva. The saliva can be passed through kissing your child or your partner. People who are susceptible to gum disease include about 30% of the population that are genetically predisposed to the disease.
There are several options for treating gum disease. Scaling and root planning are non-surgical procedures that can be performed. These are less invasive and less costly than the surgical procedures. Although this can be highly successful treatment, dentists will tell you that you will need continuous maintenance to prevent further treatment and surgery to correct the problems at a later date.
Periodontal surgery is necessary if the surrounding tissue is diseased to a point that non-surgical treatment would not be enough to repair the problems.
Signs of gum disease should not be ignored. If the signs are seen in your mirror when you are brushing and flossing, they should be brought to the attention of your dentist.


