Do You Have Periodontal Disease?

Do You Have Periodontal Disease?

Don’t let gum disease ruin your oral health. Be proactive!

Are you starting to notice blood in the sink whenever you brush or floss? If so, this could be an early warning sign of gum disease. During these early stages (termed gingivitis) this problem will only affect the gums. While gingivitis can be reversed, if the problem is left untreated, it can continue to travel into the jawbone, leading to full-blown gum disease and serious health complications. Read on to learn more about this condition and to find out how our Naples, FL, dentists, Drs. Richard and Maria Linden, can treat it!

Signs of Periodontal Disease

If you know what to look out for, then you’re more likely to see a dentist when the issue is easy enough to treat and hasn’t yet caused serious damage to your smile. Common symptoms associated with gum disease include,

  • Red, inflamed gums: Often accompanied by bleeding during brushing or flossing, inflamed gum tissue is the hallmark symptom of gum disease. You may also notice that your gums are tender to the touch.
  • Receding gums: Do your teeth suddenly look a bit longer than usual? No, your teeth aren’t still growing—this is actually a warning sign of gum disease. As the infection takes over, it causes the gums to shrink, causing gums to pull away from the teeth to create infected pockets within the gums.
  • Bad breath: There are a lot of reasons why we deal with bad breath. After all, our mouths are constantly teeming with bacteria; however, if you have inflamed gums you are more likely to deal with persistent and unexplained bad breath. This is not a common symptom of gingivitis but it is a warning sign that you may be dealing with severe gum disease, which warrants immediate medical care from our Naples, FL, general dentist.
  • Sensitive teeth: Have you noticed that whenever you sip that steaming cup of coffee or ice cold water that it causes your teeth discomfort? While there are a few reasons why people suddenly deal with tooth sensitivity, one of those reasons is due to receding gums. As the gums continue to recede, it exposes more of the tooth, thus leading to sensitivity.

If you ignore your symptoms or if you aren’t someone who keeps up with their routine checkups, you may not even notice that something is wrong until teeth start to wiggle or feel loose. This usually happens once gum disease has spread, which constitutes a dental emergency.

 

Concerned? Give Us a Call!

Remember, the best way to protect the health of your teeth and gums is to get routine dental cleanings and checkups every six months. If it’s time for your next cleaning, then call Linden Dental in Naples, FL, today at (239) 593-0777.