If you’re diligent about practicing good hygiene every day, then you’re probably also confident that you would know if a problem arose with the health of your teeth or gums. If you don’t feel a toothache, or any other form of sensitivity, then it can be easy to assume that all is okay. However, some of the most potentially harmful conditions, such as gum disease, can develop and progress long before you realize it. At our Auburn Hills, MI, dentist’s office, we can help you determine if you have the early stages of gum disease, known as gingivitis, and help you get it under control before it grows into a more serious threat.
If your gums look “angry”
Gingivitis is an infection in your gum tissues that develops when oral bacteria accumulate on your gum line. Some of the bacteria release toxins and harmful molecules that irritate and inflame your gums. If the tissues around your teeth appear red, swollen, glossy, or otherwise irritated, then gingivitis may be to blame. You should seek a professional exam and diagnosis as soon as possible before these symptoms become more pronounced.
If your gums bleed when you brush
Aside from swelling and discoloration, gums can also begin to bleed when gingivitis sets in. This is due to the infection inflaming and weakening your gums, and it should always be taken seriously any time you notice blood when you brush and floss your teeth. The bleeding indicates the increasingly worse damage to your gums, and the longer you wait to seek treatment, the more this damage can affect your gum tissues.
If your breath is getting worse
As your gums erode due to gingivitis and gum disease, the accumulation of oral bacteria and diseased gum tissues can cause your breath to grow increasingly worse. Even after thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth, chewing gum, eating mints, and using breath spray, the odor associated with gum disease won’t go away. By treating your condition, however, you can eliminate the cause of your chronic bad breath and finally find relief from it.
Learn if you need gingivitis treatment
If you notice any of these signs, then you might have gingivitis and now know it yet. To find out if you do, and if you need gingivitis treatment, schedule an appointment or initial consultation by calling Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI today at (248) 852-1820.
