Gum disease, which is the condition that results when gingivitis gets worse, can become one of the biggest threats to your long-term oral health when it’s allowed to progress. On one hand, it can become your biggest risk of losing one or more teeth in the future. On the other, it can also negatively influence your overall health due to the inflammation that occurs in your oral tissues. Today, we examine a few of the signs that might warn you of gum disease’s presence, and why you should take the signs seriously as soon as you notice them.
Your gums bleed when you brush and floss
Bleeding gums are among the most common signs of gingivitis development, which is the result of excessive oral bacteria gathering along your gum line and underneath your gums. The infection that the bacteria cause can cause increasingly worse damage to your gum tissues, and bleeding is one of the first signs of that damage. Yet, the bleeding may not be severe and your gums may not hurt, which can make it easy to overlook it as a serious concern and ignore it long enough for gum disease to become more severe.
Your gum tissues are changing color
When your gums start to change under the influence of gum disease, bleeding as a result of the damage is just one common sign of it. Another may be noticeable changes in the color of your gum tissues in certain areas. The gums may be darker than the tissues around them in that area, or may look red and angry looking due to the infection. Every time you brush and floss your teeth, pay close attention to the appearance of your gums and you’ll be more likely to notice any changes as early as possible.
You see your gums pulling away slightly
The irritation and infection in your gums that mark gum disease can have several different impacts on your oral health, and many of those include the weakening of your gums’ integrity. You may notice the tissues pulling away slightly from your teeth as the infection progresses, which can create pockets between your gums and teeth that can harbor even more harmful oral bacteria. This can also lead to the loosening of your teeth in this area, which may be a precursor to increased risks of experiencing tooth loss.
Learn if you need gum disease treatment
If you notice these or other concerning signs with your gum health, then learn if you can benefit from gum disease treatment. To learn more, schedule an appointment or initial consultation by calling Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI, today at (248) 852-1820.
