You visit your dental office every few months, and somehow, you still have gum problems. You may be wondering what’s going on. Well, most people don’t properly track their gum health because they are focusing heavily on their teeth, and they let these issues worsen. Make sure you watch for the following 11 common symptoms of gum disease.
Discolored Gums
Healthy gums should be pink and look healthy, but that changes quickly if you get gum disease! Red and purple discolorations are not a good sign. Why does this happen? Well, there are many reasons, including infections and other diseases.
The deeper the color changes, the worse the problem. Pay attention to these changes as some may come and go, and call your dentist as soon as possible. There’s no reason that you need to let discolored gums reach a point of real danger.
Swollen Mouth
When your gums get sick, they might start swelling up. Unfortunately, that inflammation can quickly spread to the rest of your mouth, making your mouth very uncomfortable. Often, this problem spirals, and if left untreated, it can worsen other symptoms.
If you get to the point where your mouth feels twice its normal size, then your gum disease has gotten out of control and you need help. Contact a dentist right away, and they can ensure you get help as soon as you need it.
Bleeding Gums
A little blood on the gums might not be too serious, but persistently bleeding gums can be bad. Find where your bleeding originates by looking in the mirror. There might be a cut that you didn’t notice or your gums might bleed in general. The former is bad enough, but the latter is much worse. Get to a dentist as soon as possible to get help.
Tender Gums
When healthy, your gums should basically feel like any part of your body with no tenderness. However, that changes when they get sick. Tenderness throughout your gums, especially around the teeth line, can be a real problem that you should take very seriously with treatment.
As a result, you need to sit down with your dentist and figure out what is wrong. Tender gums are often a symptom of a pressing problem, including infections, that must be managed soon. If they aren’t taken care of soon, they’ll worsen. Thankfully, dental treatment can reduce this problem for you!
Pus Around the Gums
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 46% of people over 30 years old show signs of gum disease, including pus. Pus is your body reacting to sickness and infection. Around the gum line, this pus can be very problematic indeed.
When you have a lot of pus coming from your gums, you must talk to your dentist. Don’t delay! Call them right away to schedule an emergency visit. Persistent pus could be a symptom of expanding infections, which can become an even bigger issue.
Loose Teeth
You probably immediately schedule a trip to your dental office the second you notice loose teeth, and that’s a smart choice! As you can imagine, loose teeth in your gums are very scary. Loose gums can cause your teeth to sink. Gums disease can loosen your teeth and even make them fall out!
We hate this problem because it can impact you even if you take great care of your teeth. Gum health is often trickier to manage, and it can leave you in a tough situation. However, treating gum disease may help with this danger, especially if you’re already afraid a tooth is going to fall out.
Bad Breath
Now, not every case of bad breath is caused by gum disease. It’s important to visit your dentist to get checked out before assuming there’s an issue. For example, a dentist can check to make sure that things like rotting teeth aren’t to blame for your halitosis, the medical term for bad breath. If it’s your gums, what then? Long-term gum treatments, including mouthwashes and regular checkups, can help.
Receding Gums
Typically, your gums stay strong and stable and don’t start disappearing, but that can change if you get gum disease. Receding gums indicate real issues with your mouth, including infections, gingivitis, etc, and must be taken seriously. How exactly can your dentist help you out here?
Receding gums are more about losing tissue around your teeth, and they’re also connected to tooth loss. As mentioned earlier, loose teeth are a serious sign of gum disease. It all starts with receding gums! Make sure you call your dentist to get the support you need.
Painful Chewing
Healthy teeth and gums make chewing a delight, but inflamed or sick ones make eating very hard to handle. Painful chewing when eating things that normally don’t bother you is a real sign of gum disease. What can you do to manage it?
Pay close attention to where your pain originates — i.e., close to the gum line and the teeth — to see if that’s the issue. It might come and go or stay persistent to make sure you’re getting help. You deserve strong and healthy gum, teeth, and a better and happier mouth.
Gaps in Your Teeth
Did you go to an orthodontist for years to restore your smile to flawless beauty? According to our sources, thousands of people get braces every year, but what happens when new gaps appear? Most likely, gum disease is to blame.
That’s because gum disease can trigger shifts in your mouth structure, causing your teeth to move and change position. Gaps are not a great thing and can often cause more pain and suffering. Get them checked out as soon as possible.
Changes in Tooth Fit
Tooth fit refers to how your teeth fit together. If yours start grinding or gnashing out of nowhere, their fit may have changed due to gum issues. While your mouth’s teeth might settle or change with time, they shouldn’t alter that much, making it essential to fix your gums as soon as possible. If you don’t, then your teeth will settle even further, and you might lose some. It’s simply not worth waiting for that to happen.
Now that you know some of the biggest symptoms of gum disease — these are just some you have to watch — you can schedule a visit with our dental office. Let’s be honest: most people probably have some lingering problems with gums that must be managed. Never fear: that’s why we’re here! Our team can give you the high-quality dental service that you deserve for your needs.
Don’t wait to get in touch with our team at Bright Side Dental to schedule an appointment for a checkup. Whether you notice any signs of gum disease or you need to schedule your routine appointment, we’ll be here to help! When you give us a call, a member of our experienced dental team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about our services. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you have healthy teeth and gums all year long. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.