What Are The Symptoms Of Periodontal Disease?

There are many reasons why you might begin to suffer from periodontal disease. Periodontal disease, typically known more as “gum disease,” is most likely caused by improper dental and oral hygiene. There are other risk factors, however, that can make you more susceptible, including hormonal changes, smoking, diabetes, and over-the-counter medications.

It is important to know the common symptoms of gum disease in order to know when to see your dentist to control it. The first signs of periodontal disease are typically seen in the gums around the teeth, and are signs of gingivitis. This includes red, swollen gums that might be tender to the touch and may experience bleeding or pain. Another common sign is bad breath that cannot be controlled with brushing or mouthwashes.

As periodontal disease progresses past the point of just being a mild case of gingivitis, however, many individuals will find that their teeth become more sensitive to hot and cold, they may have pain occur when chewing foods and they may notice their gums receding and teeth becoming loose and unstable. When this starts to occur, it is essential that you see a dentist immediately to keep any further damage from occurring and risk losing your natural teeth due to periodontal disease. Losing your teeth is a serious matter that will require extra cosmetic dentistry in order to replace and repair the damage done by periodontal disease, so it is essential that you catch this disease in its early stages to avoid permanent, irreversible damage to your smile and more costly treatments.

Many cases of periodontal disease can be kept at bay and avoided altogether with proper dental and oral hygiene practices. Aside from the other risk factors in that many play a part in your chances of getting periodontal disease, preventative measures work best to keep from experiencing the pain and discomfort of gingivitis and periodontitis.