What is gum disease?
Gum disease starts with inflammation in your gums. Untreated gum disease can progress from a mild form to a more serious type that causes damage to your teeth, gums, and eventually, your bones and other areas of your body. In its earliest stage, gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal (gum) disease. Gingivitis can quickly advance to periodontitis and spread below your gum line.
Gingivitis
If you don’t brush and floss as often as you should, you could find yourself with gingivitis — the earliest stage of gum disease. With gingivitis, your gums become red and swollen and bleed easily when you brush your teeth or chew foods. Fortunately, gingivitis is reversible with improved oral hygiene and professional dental cleanings and treatments.
Periodontitis
Untreated gingivitis can turn into periodontitis — a more advanced stage of gum disease. When plaque spreads from the surface of your teeth to below your gum line, toxins from the bacteria in the plaque irritate your gums and create a chronic inflammatory condition. Your gums separate from your teeth, or recede, and the space between your teeth and gums becomes infected. Eventually, you can lose your teeth and experience irreversible damage to your jawbone.
What are the signs of gingivitis?
Warning signs of gum disease in its early stages often include:
- Sensitive gums
- Bleeding gums
- Persistent bad breath or bad taste in your mouth
- Loose teeth
- Red, puffy gums
- Change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite down
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Santa Monica Bay Periodontics can provide the expert care you need before damage from gum disease becomes permanent.
What causes gum disease?
Poor oral hygiene is a big culprit when it comes to gum disease. Other contributing risk factors include:
- Genetics
- Tobacco use
- Diabetes
- Certain medications
- Pregnancy
- Crooked or overlapping teeth that are hard to clean between
Advanced periodontitis is a highly destructive form of gum disease, so you don’t want to let your symptoms get out of control and destroy gum tissue and jawbone. If you’re at risk for gum disease, or you already have some of the signs, your periodontist at Santa Monica Bay Periodontics can help.
Schedule an appointment today by calling the office or using the online booking feature.
