If youre worried you might have gum disease, theres a good reason for that.
About half of U.S. adults have gum disease.Its one of the most common reasons people see the dentist.
Also calledperiodontaldisease, this condition may have serious consequences for both dental and overall health.
*Drazen_ / iStock*
Its a chronic condition that can progress quickly, with older people more at risk.
In the worst cases, it leads to infected teeth that need to be removed.
This article looks at four specific signs that suggest you may have gum disease.
Bleeding Gums
Plaqueis a sticky film that’s constantly forming on your teeth.
This plaque contains bacteria that cause inflammation in your gums.
If you don’tbrush wellandregularly floss, the bacteria build up below your gums.
They can spread and cause bleeding when you brush.
Bleeding gumsare often the first sign of gum disease.
If the plaque buildup continues to worsen, the bleeding usually gets worse.
The reality is that your gums shouldn’t bleed when you brush and floss.
Your gums may also swell, turn red, or become sore.
Tooth sensitivity may occur as well.
This can be due to gum recession, when the gums pull up and away from the teeth.
If you dont floss, the plaque can causegingivitis, a gum disease that can progress if not treated.
It will destroy the fibers that attach your gum tissue to your teeth.
With gums that bleed, there is more to think about than thepainor discomfort of the bleeding itself.
Other health issues can arise if your bleeding is related to gum disease.
Bacteria can key in your bloodstream through your inflamed gums.
Your dentist can do an exam that is designed to find out how severe is bleeding from your gums.
Teeth that seem “long” may mean that the gums that surround them are receding away.
Gum recession is a sign that gum disease is progressing.
In later-stage gum disease, these pockets formed in the gums become too deep.
It then becomes hard to remove the food and debris by brushing and flossing.
This causes the pockets to become even deeper and the gum disease to get worse.
Both are measured in a dental exam.
Many people think gum recession is a normal part of aging.
You may have heard the expression “long in the tooth” to describe getting older.
This refers to how the gum line tends to recede and expose more of the teeth.
But there really is nothing inevitable about gum recession.
For most of us, it can be prevented.
Gum Recession
Gum recessionis the loss of gum tissue from around the tooth, exposing the root.
It’s also helpful to know if a specialist might be needed.
Gum Pockets
Dentists measure gum pockets by probing or charting to determine the general gum health.
A probe is placed down in between the tooth and the gums to find where the gum is attached.
This is known as the bottom of the pocket.
Hygienists and dentists take six measurements for every tooth to evaluate their health and any presence of gum disease.
A normal or healthy range is between 1 millimeter (mm) and 3 mm.
Anything higher indicates infection and gum disease.
Tooth Sensitivity
Gum recession or pocketing can lead to tooth sensitivity.
In these cases, sensitivity can be a sign of gum disease.
You’ll notice it when drinking things like cold or hot beverages.
What it means is that chronically inflamed gum tissue is exposing the root surface of the tooth.
Both conditions are closely linked to general inflammation in the body.
You’ll need a dental exam and cleaning.
venture to tie flossing and brushing to meal times or a consistent time that is convenient for your schedule.
It prevents it from sitting too long on your teeth.
Using awater flosseris an option to improve your dental hygiene.
If the problem continues, it leads to more inflammation and gums begin to recede.
Pocket spaces form between the gum and the tooth, which may become sensitive.
Ultimately, gum disease can lead to tooth loss.
That may not be the most serious issue, though.
The other three stages can be treated to slow advancing disease but not reverse it.
This is why it’s important to practice prevention.
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Reviewed July 10, 2013.
Preshaw PM, Alba AL, Herrera D, et al.Periodontitis and diabetes: a two-way relationship.Diabetologia.
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Pasadena Periodontics.The different stages of periodontal disease.
