Symptoms of Periodontal Disease
Wilmington, DE
 Unlike other problems in your mouth, the symptoms of gum disease change depending on what stage you are in. While all four stages of gum diseases are bad, only the first stage is reversible. If you notice any of these symptoms during your daily brushing and flossing, then you should schedule an appointment with Delaware Periodontics right away. We need to catch gum disease early.
The First Stage: Gingivitis
The first stage of gum disease is the most common. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that about half the population has some form of gum disease, with gingivitis at the top of the list. The first noticeable symptom is blood in the sink when you brush or floss. Smoking will mask the symptoms of bleeding and can give you a false sense of security.
This typically means that your gums are irritated, and if they are red and swollen whenever you smile, then that is another symptom. Gum inflammation is a sign that there is a problem inside your mouth, and it is pretty easy to treat.
Another symptom can include bad breath that does not go away with teeth cleaning. The bacteria in your mouth are feeding on the plaque, which produces the smell.
Early Periodontitis
Stage two of gum disease can also cause some real problems. Not only will you have severely inflamed gums, but they will bleed a lot more during teeth cleaning. When you smile, you might also see that your teeth appear to have elongated. This is a sign that your gums are starting to shrink.
Additionally, the bacteria can start causing bone loss under your gums. If you suddenly have spaces between your teeth or loose teeth, then that is another symptom that needs to be looked at. Early Periodontitis needs to be noticed and contained before it gets any worse, and our team knows how to fix it.
The Third Stage
The symptoms of the third stage involve more bone loss, but also infections inside of your mouth. This can start to cause sores, pain when chewing, pus, and sensitive teeth. At this point, the gums are pulling away from the teeth and removing the support. Teeth can become loose and perhaps even fall out.
The infections inside your mouth can even leak into your bloodstream, causing more problems and infections throughout your body. We want to ensure that this does not happen.
The Last Stage
If it is not clear at this point, when you reach stage four you need to come to see a member of our team. Advanced periodontitis consists of oozing gums, very bad breath, severe pain in teeth, and a bad taste in the mouth.
Additionally, the gums will have weakened severely, meaning that the loss of a few teeth will happen. Existing teeth might also move to fill the gaps, causing crooked teeth and other cosmetic problems.
Stopping it Early
Gum disease is something that needs to be stopped early before you lose total control of your mouth. We are able to help with preventative care for gum disease. If you see any of the symptoms from any stage of periodontitis, then please call Delaware Periodontics at 302-551-3553 today so our team of dentists can help you. |
