How would you know if you developed gum disease? If you do, what are your treatment options for controlling it? Despite the fact that gum disease affects almost 80% of adults to some degree, many still aren’t fully aware of what that means to their smiles, or how to spot the signs that their smiles are at risk. At our Auburn Hills, MI, dental office, we make protecting your smile from gum disease a priority, especially if we notice signs of it during your routine checkup and cleaning appointment. If necessary, we can recommend an appropriate periodontal cleaning and maintenance plan to stop it from getting worse.
How do you know its time to treat it?
Gum disease can be tricky at first. That’s because you may not always realize when it develops, and if you don’t, it can progress quickly and become severe before you do. The best way to avoid this is to keep a close eye on your teeth and gums every time you brush and floss them by doing so in front of a well-lit mirror. Some of the most common signs to look out for include:
- Bleeding in your gums
- Redness in certain parts of your gums
- Discoloration in the tissues around a tooth
- Your gums receding from your teeth
- The presence of chronic bad breath
- And other signs of gum health trouble
What happens if you wait too long?
If you notice these or other signs of gum disease, then it’s important to seek treatment for it as soon as possible. One reason is the progressive nature of the disease when it’s left alone. Over time, gum disease only grows more severe and affects more of your healthy gum tissues. This effect includes chronic inflammation in the gums, which causes the tissues to lose their grip on your teeth and allow more oral bacteria underneath the tissues. The bacteria under your gums lead to increasingly worse damage and infection in the tissues, and in severe cases of gum disease, you may experience the loss of a tooth or the need to extract one.
Can gum disease really cause tooth loss?
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults in the U.S., due mainly to the sneaky way it can develop unnoticed. If you don’t see the signs and seek treatment, then the disease will continue eroding your gum tissues and, eventually, the jawbone structure that lies underneath it. The sooner you treat gum disease, the better chance you have of avoiding this destruction and losing one or more of your healthy, natural teeth.
Learn more about gum disease
With proper care and attention, you have a good chance of avoiding the severe threats of gum disease to your oral and overall health. To learn more, schedule an appointment or initial consultation by calling Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI, today at (248) 852-1820.
