The signs and symptoms of gum disease can be very obvious, but sometimes you may not know until a dental professional points it out to you. Ultimately, your oral hygiene is dependent on your daily brushing and flossing and without this basic routine, gum disease can accelerate very quickly. Gum disease is called periodontitis, which is defined as inflammation of the periodontal tissues resulting in clinical attachment loss, alveolar bone loss and periodontal pocketing. Gingivitis is a term to describe inflammation of the gum tissue. Gingivitis can come and go very easily, depending on your hygiene habits, but prolonged gingivitis can lead to gum disease.
What are the signs and symptoms of gum disease?
Gum disease can be a process that takes years of deterioration of the periodontal tissues – a gradual decline of gum health. This is usually from not seeing a dentist regularly. It can also be a very rapid progression that occurs between dental visits and can be due to changes in medication, medical conditions changing or life events that hinder oral hygiene. Signs and symptoms of gum disease that you may notice include:
Bad breath
Bleeding while flossing or brushing
Mobile teeth
Tartar (calculus) build up
Pain or discomfort when chewing
Severe pain to touch of the gums – severe gum disease
Pus drainage from around teeth
Recession of the gums
A dental office will evaluate your gum health by measuring your gum tissue – also referred to as periodontal probing depths. You may have heard your dentist or hygienist shout out numbers like “3,2,3…3,2,3…4,4,4, etc.” These numbers are the measurements in millimeters of the depth of your gum tissue from the top area to where the gums connect to your tooth. These measurements are normal when they are in the range of 1-3mm. Periodontal probings over 3mm indicates inflammation in the area and potentially bone loss. Measurements can improve over time if the source of the inflammation is removed – plaque and tartar (calculus).
Dental xrays are also used to evaluate the health of the periodontal tissues – bone loss around teeth can indicate there currently is gum disease or an infection in the area. It can also show that you had gum disease treated in the past and the bone loss has been stable since that time. Some patients are kept on a maintenance program to keep the amount of plaque and calculus low, to prevent further bone loss.
How to prevent gum disease?
Prevention of gum disease is quite simple. Brush and floss twice a day and see a dentist regularly. Using an electric toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach areas can also help keep your gums healthier. Replacing your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every three months will reduce the amount of bacteria present on the toothbrush. Visiting your dentist regularly is important because they can detect the beginning stages of gum disease before it becomes a bigger problem. Your dentist should be able to show you the reasons why you may be requiring a deep cleaning, or the areas of concern seen on xrays. If you don't understand why something is recommended, always ask your dentist.
If you experience any of the signs and symptoms above, be sure to let your dental professional know as soon as possible so that they can diagnose and treat the issue. Gum disease is a severe condition that affects your overall health, so be sure to take care of your oral hygiene.
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Why is gum disease so concerning?
Gum disease is the presence of inflammation, which can be short-term or chronic. Chronic conditions of inflammation means that your body is constantly trying to fight off the invading bacteria (plaque and calculus). There is a direct connection between the oral cavity and our overall health. Studies have shown the connection between gum disease and all of the following conditions:
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Respiratory Disease
Osteoporosis
Cancer
Alzheimer's Disease
Gum Disease FAQs
Can gum disease be cured?
Gum disease, or periodontitis, cannot be cured. This is because the definition of periodontitis is the inflammation of the periodontal tissues resulting in clinical attachment loss, alveolar bone loss and periodontal pocketing. So, once there has been attachment loss, bone loss and deep periodontal pockets, this cannot be reversed. The source of the inflammation can be removed, which stops the progression of gum disease. Once the inflammation is removed, the goal is to maintain this level of periodontal tissue by reducing the amount of bacteria present around the teeth. This is why after scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) is completed, these patients are seen more frequently for cleanings – these visits are called periodontal maintenance.
Can gum disease kill you?
Gum disease can lead to localized infections in the mouth. These infections of the gums and surrounding tissues can lead to cavities and infections of teeth, which can spread to deeper spaces in the body, such as around your airway, which can lead to death. This is the most severe scenario, and usually not very common from gum disease itself, but gum disease can be the cause of other problems that can result in death. Gum disease can also be connected to other diseases of the body, which can lead to death.
Is gum disease contagious?
No! As we've discussed above, the source of gum disease is bacteria around the teeth and under the gums. This bacteria is adhered to the teeth through plaque and tartar. Gum disease is the presence of inflammation of the periodontal tissues resulting in attachment loss, bone loss and deep pockets of gum tissue.
Can gum disease be reversed?
Gum disease cannot be reversed, but gingivitis can be. Gingivitis is simply inflammation of the gum tissue, which can be reversed by removing the plaque that is attached to the teeth by brushing and flossing. Reversing gum disease would mean that you become cured of gum disease, which is not possible. However, the progression of gum disease can be stopped with proper treatment and maintenance. Once the inflammation is removed, it is important to keep the amount of bacteria around your teeth to a minimum, or it will cause inflammation again. This is why after deep cleaning patients need to have periodontal maintenance appointments with their dentist.
Dr. Thomas is a general dentist that loves sharing information about all aspects of dentistry, but is passionate about digital and implant dentistry. Dr. Thomas received his DMD degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and continues to find helpful ways to inform and educate people about dental procedures and products.
Are you looking for a second opinion? Dr. Thomas is the CEO of Opinion Two Nonprofit Organization. Opinion Two is available online or on mobile app and it allows patients to receive dental second opinions with top US-licensed dentists. All proceeds are used to benefit future generations of dentists through scholarships and benefits to pre-dental programs.