If you want to maintain a strong and healthy smile for years to come, it is imperative that you care for your oral tissues. Gum disease, if left untreated, can damage your smile and lead to tooth loss and/or bone deterioration.
With that in mind, our St. Louis dentists are here to review some of the commonly occurring symptoms of gum disease. We hope that this information helps you take control of your smile and seek prompt treatment for oral health infections as soon as they pop up.
One of the first things that you may notice when you develop gum disease is that your gums look red and swollen. Healthy gum tissue is generally some shade of light pink, as the tissue becomes infected it will begin to look more inflamed and brighter red.
You may also notice that your gum tissue bleeds easily when you brush, floss, or eat something crunchy or abrasive. As your gum tissue becomes healthier, you’ll find that it bleeds less and less.
Another key sign of gum disease is hard-to-treat bad breath. This occurs because the oral bacteria that cause gum disease release unpleasant odors as they feed on sugars and multiply. If you find that your breath feels stale and smells bad no matter how diligently you clean your mouth, you may be dealing with gum disease.
As gum disease becomes more severe, it can attack the underlying foundation of your smile. Patients with advanced periodontal disease find that their teeth shift and change positions over time. Ultimately, periodontal disease will lead to tooth loss, and it will cause your jawbone tissue to weaken and deteriorate.
If you think that you’re dealing with periodontal disease, please reach out to our St. Louis gum disease dentists for an evaluation and prompt treatment. We can help you get your smile back on track with treatment that is tailored to suit your needs. We look forward to speaking with you!