How To Tell If You Have Gum Disease
Posted on: 9 April 2018
Nobody wants to have gum disease, so catching it early on and reversing it is essential. Unfortunately, the vast majority of noticeable symptoms from gum disease occur when the disease has already progressed. In some cases, it may be too late to fix the problem at home, and you may need to get help from a dentist. Check out this list of symptoms to find out if you have gum disease and didn't know it.
Receding
One common symptom of gum disease that goes unnoticed by those who have it is receding gums. When the tissue of your gums gets inflamed, infected, or damaged due to gum disease, it pulls further up the tooth. This means that more of your tooth is visible to the naked eye.
Since receding gums happen over time, it might not be noticeable to you at first. However, there's an easy way to see if your gums are receding.
Take a close look in the mirror and look at your teeth. Now, look at your gums. If any of your teeth have shorter or longer gums than the surrounding teeth, that's your sign. If your gums are all level, you can move on to the next step.
Bleeding While Flossing
If your gums were bleeding all the time, you would probably know that you've got gum disease. However, some people experience rare bleeding and don't know that it's a sign of gum disease. One of the most common triggers for this is flossing.
If you rarely floss and make an attempt to, you might notice blood on the floss. This means that the tissues of your gums are sensitive enough to bleed when the floss passes over them. If your gums are that sensitive, there's most likely some stage of gum disease at work.
Women
Women get a special indicator of gum disease that men just don't. For many women, gums bleed exclusively during their periods or during PMS. This is due to a combination of elevated hormones in the body that coincide with one's period. Once the period ends, the gums go back to normal, so many women don't worry about it.
In some women, gums can bleed without having gum disease. However, any form of gum disease will make your teeth even more sensitive to the hormones responsible for bleeding, so it's important to consult with a dentist.
Color
Lastly, consider the color of your gums. Healthy gums should be pink and vibrant. If you gently press on one with your fingertips, they should briefly turn a paler color and then bright pink again once you remove your finger.
If your gums are dark or deep red, that may indicate an active infection going on in the body. If you think your gums aren't the right color, you should see a dentist.
Beating gum disease is important to keep your overall health in good shape. Remember to visit your dentist regularly as scheduled, and if you think you might be developing gum disease, drop by. It's better to find out that everything's okay from your dentist than to wait too long and risk losing teeth in the process.
For more information, contact your local emergency dental services.
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