July 15, 2024
The secret to optimal oral health is visiting the dentist in 37128 regularly and maintaining a good oral hygiene routine. However, when life becomes hectic, it’s easy to forget these things. When that happens, issues may start to pile up, triggering a series of negative oral symptoms like gum bleeding and increased sensitivity.
Besides the bother they cause to your daily life, these issues are also indicators of a more serious underlying problem. That’s why we came up with this article explaining what signs you need to look out for and which ones indicate that you may have gum disease.
What’s the Difference Between a Periodontist and a Dentist?
A dentist is a medical practitioner authorized to identify and manage oral health issues, including cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss.
In contrast, a periodontist is a dental professional who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease as well as disorders affecting the tissues and bones that support teeth. While not all dentists are periodontists, all dentists are periodontists.
A periodontist's range of procedures often involves specific treatments that require more training and education. Their two main areas of expertise are:
- Diagnosing, treating, and preventing gum disease, also known as periodontal disease.
- Placing dental implants.
Basically, periodontists study to understand the hard and soft tissues that support the teeth, also known as periodontium. Additionally, they need advanced surgical training to be able to insert and care for dental implants as they heal.
What’s Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a dangerous infection that affects the soft tissue surrounding and supporting your teeth. It’s caused mainly by plaque accumulation resulting from bad oral hygiene practices. The danger of gum disease is that, in its advanced stage, it can weaken the bone that supports your teeth, loosening or even displacing them.
Almost half of adults ages 30 and older in America have signs of gum disease, and 9% of them suffer from more severe periodontitis. Some typical symptoms are gum soreness, swelling, and bleeding. So, what are other signs you should be looking out for?
1. Bleeding Gums When Brushing
Bleeding gums are one of the main indicators of periodontal disease.
Patients with early-stage gum disease may notice that they bleed during flossing. However, bleeding after brushing is a sign of a more serious periodontitis. You should also see a periodontist if you begin to experience bleeding after eating—or if it happens for no apparent reason.
In these cases, you may have more advanced periodontitis.
2. Red, Swollen, or Tender Gums
The bacteria that cause gingivitis may also cause inflammation. When this happens, deep pockets form around your teeth, and if not treated, they’re the ideal breeding ground for plaque and bacteria to continue developing.
That’s why swollen gums should not be disregarded. A way to identify them is that inflamed gums appear redder than usual and feel more sensitive to the touch.
3. Chronic Bad Breath
Anyone who likes eating garlic knows that, sometimes, bad breath is inevitable. However, if you notice that your bad breath persists over time and is not resolved by practicing good oral hygiene, it may be an early indicator of a medical condition. Specifically, a periodontal infection.
This is also known as halitosis.
4. Sensitive Teeth
Advanced gum disease causes exposed roots and a receding gum line, which can make teeth more sensitive. This, coupled with an eroding enamel, will lead to an increased temperature sensitivity in your teeth.
So, if you’re feeling especially sensitive to hot or cold food and beverages lately, it may be time to seek medical dental advice. Even if it’s not gum disease, it may be an indicator of another dental issue.
5. Loose Teeth
After losing your baby teeth, the new set is supposed to last forever. If you notice they’ve become loose or started shifting slightly, it’s not a good sign.
To combat infections, the body’s “good” enzymes produce toxins. These toxins start to break down the bone and connective tissue that holds teeth in place. As the disease worsens, the pockets get bigger, and more bone and gum are lost. Teeth become loose and lose their anchorage when this happens, which results in tooth loss.
In fact, gum disease is the most frequent reason why adults lose their teeth. An indicator of this is having trouble chewing, noticing that new spaces between your teeth have appeared, or sensing a change in the way your teeth fit together.
6. Gum Recession
As we’ve mentioned before, gingivitis causes gum recession. This can have serious side effects, like having exposed roots and potential tooth loss. If your teeth appear longer, it may be a sign of advanced periodontal disease.
Periodontitis vs Gingivitis: What Is the Difference?
Gingivitis is the initial stage of gum disease, an infection of your mouth’s gum tissue. If left untreated, it can develop into more severe periodontitis.
Gingivitis can be solved simply with professional cleaning and appropriate brushing and flossing practices. Periodontitis, however, requires more advanced treatment. These are some common signs of gingivitis:
- Swollen, red gums;
- Bleeding gums during dental flossing and brushing.
Because there is no pain, many people have gingivitis without realizing it. It is critical to keep up with routine dental cleanings to detect and treat gum disease early on.
Your symptoms of periodontitis will worsen the longer the infection progresses. Common symptoms include:
- Inflamed, red gums,
- Gum bleeding,
- Receding gums,
- Sensible teeth,
- Sore gums,
- Bad breath,
- Loose or shifting teeth,
- Discomfort when biting.
Periodontitis has also been associated with other health problems, like heart disease, diabetes, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. Because of that, it's critical to treat gum disease before the infection's bacteria spread to the blood.
What Causes Periodontitis?
Bad dental hygiene is the primary cause of periodontitis. When you fail to brush and floss your teeth properly, a sticky film known as plaque starts to form from the remaining food particles and bacteria.
This gunk releases acids that eat away the enamel, the layer covering your teeth, and causes decay. Plaque turns into tartar after 72 hours, which accumulates along the gum line and makes it difficult to thoroughly clean your teeth and gums. Gingivitis develops when this accumulation irritates and inflames your gums over time.
There are additional variables that can raise your risk of periodontitis, such as:
- Smoking impairs your body's defenses against infection.
- Diabetes increases a person's susceptibility to infections, including periodontitis.
- Genetic makeup and family history can also leave you more susceptible to gum disease.
- Periodontitis can increase as a result of hormonal changes in women caused by events like pregnancy or birth control pill use.
- Periodontitis is associated with health conditions that cause inflammation, such as arthritis, COVID-19, and cardiovascular disease.
What Happens If Periodontal Disease Goes Untreated?
As periodontal disease worsens over time, it becomes more problematic. There are four phases of gum disease:
- Gingivitis: A less severe form of gum disease. Gingivitis causes swelling and redness of the gums, but it doesn't imply bone loss around the teeth yet. If you visit your dentist for cleanings on a regular basis and improve how you clean your teeth, you can reverse gingivitis.
- Mild periodontitis: Gingivitis progresses to mild periodontitis if treatment is not received. At this point, the bone surrounding your teeth starts to recede, and your gums start to pull away from them. As a result, you develop periodontal pockets. In these crevices, where your toothbrush and floss cannot reach, bacteria, tartar, and plaque accumulate.
- Moderate periodontitis: As the disease worsens, the bone around your teeth begins to disappear even more. The soft tissues and ligaments that support and maintain the health of your teeth are still being destroyed by bacteria. Your gums may start to hurt and become sensitive at this point.
- Severe periodontitis: The severity of the disease increases if treatment for periodontitis is not received. Your teeth may become loose and eventually fall out as the bone loss progresses. Apart from bleeding gums, you may also notice pus and infection near your gum line, which can cause persistent bad breath.
Periodontitis can lead to poor general health in addition to poor oral health. Studies indicate a significant connection between overall health and dental health.
Heart disease, stroke, dementia, and other major health problems are more likely to occur in people with periodontitis.
Find a Periodontal Dentist in 37128
Gum disease, in all of its stages, is one of the most serious dental illnesses an individual can experience. As long as you’re able to maintain a proper oral hygiene routine, the chances of developing gum disease are small—still, being aware of the signs to look out for to identify it does no harm.
And if you're not one to pay a lot of attention to your mouth, visiting Stonetrace Family Dental regularly is enough to ensure that your smile stays healthy. Reach out to find a professional who’ll assess the state of your teeth and provide any necessary recommendations.
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