Gum Disease Symptoms – What You Need To Look Out For

If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned in today’s blog, please contact our Chelmsford practice for further advice.

You will probably have seen a few TV adverts showing someone with bleeding gums from companies selling toothpastes aimed at gum disease prevention. The show of blood when they spit is sometimes followed by the loss of a tooth. Of course losing a tooth because of gum disease is a slower process than the time an advert might suggest, but even though it is a gradual process, there is still just a limited time to do something about it before it becomes serious enough for tooth loss to become a real possibility.

Bleeding gums is just one of the possible symptoms and one which works well for TV advertising. There are other symptoms though (and in fact no symptoms at all) which can also mean that you may have gingivitis or periodontitis and we will look at those in today’s blog.

For the sake of simplicity, we have listed the most likely symptoms of both gingivitis and periodontitis together as many of those cross over . It is important not to underestimate the potential harm caused by this problem and prompt help should be sought if you notice any of these.

Bleeding gums

As mentioned before, this is a clear sign that you may have gum disease. While other things may also cause temporary bleeding, such as brushing too roughly; if your gums bleed more than once you should contact your Blue Sky dentist for further advice. We may recommend that you make an appointment to have your gums checked. The sooner the problem can be diagnosed, the better the chances are of preventing it from becoming a serious issue.

Red or inflamed gums

If your gums aren’t their usually healthy pink colour but are a deeper shade of red, or if you feel some discomfort in your gums, especially when eating, then gum disease may be present. You might want to see a dentist anyway if your gums are painful, but even if they are not bothering you too much, a check up would definitely be a good idea.

Sore or painful gums

As above, if you notice that your gums are causing you discomfort when you are eating or even when not, this is unlikely to get any better without treatment. Delaying having your gums checked could lead to the need for a complex and invasive treatment known as a ‘deep clean’ or ‘root planing’. It is much better to react quickly and contact us. If you are still in the gingivitis stage it is likely that this can be controlled with a non-invasive ‘scale and polish’ procedure carried out by our dental hygienist, along with improved home cleaning.

Bad breath/halitosis

This is a symptom that you may not notice yourself, but you can be sure that those around you will! If you have bad breath, you are likely to find that people take an involuntary step backwards when you are talking to them. The likelihood is that they may also be too embarrassed to mention your breath and this is another reason for having a gum health check every six months at our Chelmsford dental clinic.

Receding gums

When gum disease is present, your gums may start to recede. Not only does this sometimes lead to your teeth appearing to be longer than usual but can also expose the less well protected part of the tooth root. This can lead to sensitive teeth and also an increased likelihood of tooth decay.

Loose or wobbly teeth

If your teeth seem loose or start to wobble in their socket, this is highly likely to be caused by periodontitis. This means that not only the gums are affected but the bone too. As the bone weakens and degrades, it loses its grip on the tooth root and causes it to become loose. Eventually, you are likely to lose the tooth altogether. Making sure that you have regular six monthly check ups should hopefully avoid things ever reaching this stage.

‘Silent symptoms’

The symptoms listed above are the most likely ones that you will experience if you develop gum disease. It is important to remember though that some people experience none of these, at least not noticeably. This is even more reason for you to see the dental hygienist and have your teeth professionally cleaned by them to remove any tartar present. This, and discussing your oral health and how you can improve it with them should help you maintain healthy gums on an ongoing basis.

To take your first steps towards improving the health of your gums and to avoid the issues associated with gum disease, make sure to make an appointment with the hygienist by calling Blue Sky Dental today on 01245 211070.