The majority of people link dental problems to issues with their teeth, like decay or possibly a broken tooth. Nonetheless, poor gum health is equally prevalent. This can cause discomfort in addition to possibly leading to tooth loss if the issue is neglected, which happens occasionally. While problems with your teeth, like a break or a toothache, are usually fairly obvious, problems with your gums can occasionally be harder to spot, especially in the early stages. The symptoms listed below are a few that our Ipswich dentists look at to see if gum disease is present.
Soreness and discomfort
As long as the gum discomfort isn’t too bad, it’s simple to ignore. For instance, we might believe that the issue stems from a scratch on our gums. While this is a possibility, it is more likely that poor gum health is the cause of the problem if it persists for more than a few days. The same holds true if eating causes you discomfort. In both situations, you ought to get this examined right away.
Inflammation and redness
If your gums appear swollen or have turned a reddish color instead of the normal pink color, this is a more obvious indicator that you may have periodontitis or gingivitis. Your gums are almost definitely infected if they are red or swollen.
Bleeding gums
This is one of the symptoms that patients may be more accustomed to. Most of you have probably watched TV commercials where the actress spits blood after brushing her teeth. While not the only indicator, this is most likely one of the signs of gum disease. Blood after brushing your teeth should not be ignored as this could lead to more serious issues down the road.
Loose teeth
Whether it’s gum disease or something else, there is unquestionably an issue if your teeth begin to tremble and feel loose. In the event that gum disease is identified, periodontitis—a more advanced stage of the condition—is most likely to develop. If any of your teeth are loose, you should visit your dentist right away to lower the likelihood that you will lose them all.
Bad breath
Your friends may catch wind of this one much sooner than you think. You should look into this further if they say you have bad breath. Even though it might have been something you ate, this won’t cause chronic bad breath. See the dentist and hygienist as soon as possible because your gums may be the source of the issue if it persists.
Although the aforementioned symptoms are unpleasant, there is good news: gum disease is manageable. You can take a lot of preventative measures, and we can assist you as well. It’s also important to keep in mind that gum disease can be a “silent” issue, meaning that even if you don’t experience any overt symptoms, your teeth and gums could still be suffering damage. For this reason, even if there are no overt problems, you should have a professional examination of your teeth done every six months or so.
At six-month intervals, you should see the dentist and hygienist unless we recommend more frequent visits. This would be especially relevant to people who are more vulnerable because of illnesses like diabetes. Make sure you have scheduled your appointments; if not, give Dental Practice Brenchley a visit.
