Signs You May Be Developing Gum Disease
The first reaction people often have when they discover they have gum disease is shock. It is such a shocking discovery because there are very few, if any, symptoms that appear. The symptoms that do appear are ones that can easily be ignored or mistaken for other problems.
Learning more about the signs and symptoms of gum disease can help you avoid a shocking diagnosis next time you visit the dentist.
Symptoms Often Caused by Gum Disease
Some of the symptoms caused by gum disease include:
- Bright red or swollen gums
- Extremely painful or tender gums
- Receding gums that cause your teeth to develop an appearance that makes them look longer
- Wobbly or loose teeth
- Shifting teeth
- Small white or yellow pus pockets that develop between your teeth or around your gums
- Tiny sores that appear in your mouth and tend to be difficult to treat
- Foul breath that doesn’t go away
- Dramatic change in your bite or jaw alignment
- Dental work, such as crowns or partial dentures, tend to feel loose or wobbly
Every person is different and will exhibit different symptoms when they have gum disease. Some individuals will notice symptoms, such as tender gums or bleeding gums, when gum disease first develops while others won’t notice symptoms until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage.
Treatment Options for Gum Disease
There are several non-surgical and surgical treatment options for gum disease. Some of the treatment options that may be available include:
- Scaling and root planing
- Gum graft surgery
- Laser treatment
- Regenerative procedures
- Periodontal pocket reduction procedures
The treatment options that you are given will depend upon the severity of your gum disease. Minor cases of gum disease that have been caught early on may only need to be treated with non-surgical options such as scaling and root planing. Severe cases of gum disease where the bone and teeth have been destroyed may require surgical treatment to clean the gums and restorative treatment to repair or replace the lost bone and teeth.
What Happens if You Ignore the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
Ignoring the symptoms of gum disease or failing to follow up with recommended treatment can cause serious problems to not only your oral health but your overall health. Untreated gum disease can cause numerous health problems including heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes.
In addition to health problems, failure to treat gum disease can be costly. Gum disease is relatively easy and inexpensive to treat in its early stages. Once it has progressed to advanced gum disease, treatment can cost thousands of dollars and there may be a need for costly restorative dental work such as implants or dentures. Treating gum disease when you first suspect it has developed will protect your health and save you money.
When to Schedule a Visit with a Dentist or Periodontist
Gum disease is extremely easy to treat when it is caught in the early stages. If you suspect you are exhibiting symptoms of gum disease, schedule an appointment with your dentist and ask to have a comprehensive periodontal evaluation.
A comprehensive periodontal evaluation looks at six different factors and provides dentists with a better understanding of your periodontal health. The six things that will be looked at and examined during a comprehensive periodontal evaluation include your bone structure, your bite, your gums, your teeth, any plaque development, and your risk factors for getting gum disease.
If it is determined that you have gum disease, your dentist may recommend you see a specialist known as a periodontist. A periodontist will help you treat your gum disease and work with you to prevent it from returning.
Are you in need of an experienced periodontist in Melbourne, Florida? If so, contact Dr. Brown at Vero VIP Implants & Periodontics. Dr. Brown will work with you to get you the proper diagnosis, educate you about your condition, provide you with various treatment options, and work with you to prevent your gum disease from spreading or returning. Call our office today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Brown.