Gum disease can have serious consequences for both your oral health and your overall wellness, so it’s important to monitor your gum tissue for symptoms of this condition. If you seek treatment promptly, the intervention to address gum disease will be more conservative, and you’ll limit the effects of the gum disease. If you delay treatment, you may suffer tooth and bone loss, along with other effects on your health.
Gum Disease Signs And Symptoms
Early stage periodontal disease, also known as gingivitis, is marked by issues such as noticeable redness, swelling or bleeding in the gums. Even if the bleeding only occurs while you are brushing or flossing, it still indicates a problem and warrants follow-up with a dentist.
If gingivitis goes untreated, it will progress into periodontitis, which is identified by symptoms including pockets appearing between the gums and the teeth, as well as noticeable gum recession. In advanced periodontitis, the teeth may even become loose in their sockets, and patients can lose teeth and jawbone tissue.
Gum Disease Treatment
It is best to consult with a dentist as soon as possible to get treatment for gum disease disease. It’s much easier – and more effective – to treat gingivitis, which typically responds to a thorough professional cleaning, than to address more advanced gum disease. Periodontitis usually requires a more invasive procedure, such as a root scaling and planning, or possibly even a surgical procedure, such as gum grafting.
It’s also important to recognize that you should continue to follow up with your dentist after gum disease has been treated successfully so that you can be monitored for signs of a relapse.
Gum Disease And Systemic Health
Your smile isn’t the only thing that suffers when you have gum disease. This oral disease appears to have some sort of connection with a slew of systemic issues, including diabetes, heart disease, mood disorders and cognitive impairments. Untreated gum disease doesn’t just affect your mouth. It can have an impact on your entire body.
Have you noticed possible symptoms of gum disease? Call DeSanti & Linden Dentistry to schedule an evaluation as soon as possible so that you can get any needed treatments.
