Also known as gum disease, periodontal disease is a serious risk to your health. You should never overlook the importance of maintain healthy teeth and gums. Periodontal disease, if left untreated, can inflict long-term damage on your oral health. It is not just your mouth, teeth, and gums that may be at stake. Periodontal disease can also increase the risk of stroke and heart attacks. It is recommended that one catches gum disease as early as possible to ensure that you can successfully recover from the damage it may have inflicted on your overall health, gums, and teeth.
What’s the Most Common Type of Periodontal Disease?
The most common type of gum disease is gingivitis. This disease is typically caused by bacteria resulting from a buildup of tartar and plaque. That’s why you should brush and floss daily, as well as go for regular cleaning by your dentist. If gingivitis doesn’t become severe, you can often reverse the effects it has dealt on your oral health. If it becomes severe, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis. This means that the bone structure of your teeth and tissues surrounding them have been compromised.
Common Signs of Periodontal Disease
- Sensitivity to cold or hot foods: When your teeth are sensitive, you can experience a sharp and short pain when the affected area is exposed to cold or hot temperatures through food and drinks. In some cases, drastic temperature changes can cause an individual to experience these symptoms. Cracks in the tooth’s enamel surface are also a known cause of tooth sensitivity.
- Pain caused by chewing: Patients with TMD often experience pain while chewing. The source of the pain can be the muscles surrounding a joint or the joint itself.
- Red gums: If you do not practice proper dental hygiene, you allow bacteria to form plaque on your teeth. These bacteria are responsible for causing gums to become inflamed, which often results in red gums.
- Persistent bad breath: Another common warning sign of periodontal disease is a bad taste in the mouth or persistent bad breath. One’s gums become irritated when bacteria in the mouth causes the formation of toxins.
- Inflamed or swollen gums: There are many possible contributors and causes of swollen or inflamed gums. You should discuss your symptoms with a dentist to get an accurate diagnosis.
- Loose teeth: Loose teeth is common among children as they are still growing. However, loose teeth for adults are a cause for concern. If a tooth loses support over time, it can become detached from the bone and gums.
- Receding gum line: If you ignore receding gum line, the bone structures and supporting tissue of the teeth can become severely damaged. You may risk losing your tooth if it is left untreated.
If you have a genetic predisposition, taking certain medications, smoking heavily, or have diabetes, these factors have the potential of increasing the risk of gingivitis and other periodontal diseases. If you happen to fall into any of these groups, it is pertinent that you keep an eye on your oral health.
How Can You Prevent Periodontal Disease?
If you suspect that you may be developing periodontal disease, you should quickly schedule an appointment with a specialized periodontist. This is an effective way to keep any damage to your mouth to a minimum. At Dr. Alex Rubinov, our medical practice utilizes the latest diagnostic tools to effectively and quickly spot any developing gum disease. You can count on us to develop a plan with you to address any dental concerns that should arise.