What Are The Two Early Signs of Gum Disease?

Periodontal disease is an infection of the gingivae and bones supporting teeth. The infection can be caused by bacteria found in the film and saliva. Plaque constantly forms on your teeth, even if you brush and floss regularly.

Periodontitis is more serious and can lead to tooth loss if not treated. It is crucial to seek periodontics near you if you have pain and swelling in the gums.

Two Early Signs of Gum Disease

If you are concerned about gum disease, there are two early signs to look out for: bleeding gums and receding gums.

Bleeding gums occur when the soft tissues get inflamed. Receding gums develops when the bacteria attack the tissues and cause them to detach from the teeth. This exposes more of the tooth root, which can make your teeth look longer than they are.

How Do You Know If You Have Mild Gum Disease?

Mild gum disease is generally not painful and does not cause loss of teeth. However, the symptoms are not always obvious, so it’s important to keep track of how you feel.

If you have mild gum disease, your gums may bleed slightly after brushing or flossing. A red line appears in the gums or on the tongue where there is bleeding.

If you have moderate to severe periodontal disease, your gums will be tender when touched by the examiner. The examiner may see pockets in your mouth where tooth roots are exposed to bacteria and plaque buildup (gingivitis). Your gums may also have yellowish patches or a red color caused by inflammation (gingivitis).

Can You Stop Gum Disease Once It Starts?

Gum disease is a serious condition that can cause tooth loss and other health problems. Fortunately, if caught early, it can be reversed. However, once gum disease has progressed to a more advanced stage, it can be difficult to treat. This plaque will eventually lead to gingivitis or chronic periodontitis if left untreated. Chronic periodontitis further damages your gums and tooth enamel, although multiple other conditions can cause similar symptoms. Therefore, it is important to know the signs of gum disease and take preventive measures as soon as possible.

How to Prevent Gum Disease

You can prevent gum disease with these tips:

• Brush with fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss daily.
• Regularly visit your dentist in Tracy, CA, for professional cleanings and checkups.
• Fluoride toothpaste or rinse.
• Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral, can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease by strengthening tooth enamel and reducing inflammation in the gums. It also reduces bacteria that cause plaque and tartar buildup on teeth and gums.
• Stop smoking. Smoking affects the gum tissues and causes inflammation.

Treatment Options For Gum Disease

There are a variety of treatment options for gum disease, including the following:

• • Antibiotics.

Oral antibiotics reduce inflammation, fight off harmful bacteria, and help heal existing gum tissue after treatment. Some oral antibiotics can be taken by mouth as a daily pill or by mouth as an antibiotic rinse once daily for four weeks.

• • Scaling and root planing

They both refer to a series of steps to remove plaque from the root surfaces of teeth (the part of the tooth below the gum line). The procedure’s purpose is to allow plaque bacteria to be removed from these areas. Scaling and root planing can help improve the health of periodontal tissues by removing bacteria, inflammation, and calculus deposited on the tooth’s root surface. This procedure also helps prevent the future recurrence of gum disease.

• • Gum grafting

This is a treatment option for patients with severe periodontitis. The gum grafts are transplanted from healthy donor sites to diseased sites. Grafts are taken from an area of healthy gums that have not yet been affected by periodontal disease and connect to the diseased sites to support and restore the periodontal tissues.

Schedule an Appointment

It is important to recognize the early signs of gum disease and take action as soon as possible to prevent further damage. Visit Valley View Dental in Tracy for more information about gum disease treatment and prevention.