Healthy Gums, Healthy Life: 3 Signs of Gum Disease That You Can’t Ignore
There is an entire ecosystem of microbiome living in your mouth. In fact, millions of bacteria, good and bad, colonize and form a biofilm known as plaque. When the balance of good and bad bacteria tips in favor of the bad, due to poor diet, hygiene, or other health issues, harmful bacteria can take over.
When harmful bacteria in your mouth takes over, you might start to see and experience signs of gum disease. Although you might not, as some doctors suggest.
If you’re wondering what the warning signs of gum disease are, read on to find out 3 signs that you shouldn’t ignore.
- Swollen Red Gums
Gums play a vital part in not only your oral health but your overall health as well. Healthy gums are pink, tough, and are not very sensitive to temperature, pressure, or pain for that matter.
Gums that are swollen and red on the other hand are sensitive and often times painful. So, what causes gums to become inflamed?
In the dental world, swollen gums due to gum disease is called gingivitis. Gingivitis is an early stage of periodontal disease, which destroys the living tissue that supports your teeth.
Gingivitis is caused by plaque build-up on your teeth. When the bad bacteria colonize your teeth forming plaque and tartar, they release toxins that irritate the gums. Gums that are swollen and sensitive are signs of gingivitis.
- Constant Bad Breath
Most people would agree that bad breath isn’t something they want to be known for. However, if you’re experiencing a bad taste in your mouth, or can smell something foul from your own breath even after brushing your teeth, you might have halitosis.
Halitosis is oftentimes caused by too many bad breath bacteria living in the mouth. Bad smelling bacteria can live in the deep pockets created by cavities and receding gum lines and can be challenging to clear out when brushing or flossing your teeth.
A sign of halitosis is having an excessively dry mouth. Saliva plays an important role in your mouth, removing leftovers, helps in breaking down food, and helps prevent diseases. A mouth that isn’t able to create enough saliva becomes dry and allows bad-smelling bacteria to proliferate.
- Receding Gums
You might notice a tooth is “longer” than others next to it. This is often due to receding gums and is something that happens gradually over time.
Receding gum lines cause pockets in between the tooth and the gum where bacteria and plaque can buildup. If left untreated, receding gums can cause irreversible damage to the bone structures of the teeth—ultimately resulting in tooth loss. Receding gums should be checked by a licensed dentist such as Columbia MD as soon as possible, before they get any worse.
Signs of Gum Disease
If you’re asking yourself ‘why do my gums hurt?’, or ‘do I have gingivitis?’, then you’re most likely experiencing some of the signs of gum disease. Gum disease is very common among Americans and can be treated with good hygienic habits, and regular checkups with a dentist.
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