Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is a severe infection that targets the soft tissues in your gums. If you don’t treat the condition early, the disease will eat into the bone that supports your teeth. As a result, this condition can lead to the weakening of the teeth, and ultimately, tooth loss. Preventive dentistry in Lake County, Illinois will help you to detect the early signs of gum disease and correct the situation before it gets out of hand.
What Is Gum Disease?
The early stage of gum disease is commonly known as gingivitis. When suffering from this condition, you’ll experience inflammation of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. This condition often affects people who don’t observe proper dental hygiene.
However, gingivitis is common and varies in severity among people.
Contrary to popular belief, gum disease does not only affect the aging population, as it usually starts to develop a few decades earlier. Many young adults in the US suffer from gum disease, but most of them remain unaware of their diagnoses until years later when it’s usually too late.
Note that this disease is not the same as periodontitis. It’s usually the first sign that your oral health is deteriorating and is typically followed by a more serious oral condition including periodontitis.
What Are the Early Signs of Gum Disease?
Many people in the US suffer from gum disease without knowing, even for several years. This usually happens because the progress of the disease is painless. However, you can discover the presence of gum disease by identifying the several common signs of bacterial infection.
The symptoms of periodontal disease might be subtle, but several warning signals indicate if a person is suffering from a dental or gum disease. You’re likely to have gum disease if you experience several unpleasant symptoms, such as:
- Bleeding gums, especially when brushing your teeth
- Bad breath or taste in your mouth all the time
- Shifting or loose teeth
- Pain when chewing food
- Swollen, red, or tender gums
- A change in your bite
Periodontal disease, if it goes untreated, may harm the gums and bones that support your teeth. Dentists reveal that this is an infection that can start from anywhere and lead to severe complications later on.
As part of a checkup with a periodontics dentist, your treatment team can provide an assessment of your oral health and vital information about all the signs of gum disease.
Reach out to a Restorative Dentist Today
A great way is to start at the dentist’s clinic: ask your dentist all information about periodontal diseases. A customized guide will always remind you when it’s time to go to the dentist for checkups and professional teeth cleaning services.
Keep in mind that what may appear as the early signs of gum disease can turn out to be a condition in the advanced stages, which often leads to tooth loss. Not only will you risk losing your teeth, but severe gum disease can also lead to other conditions, such as:
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Heart attack
- Respiratory illnesses
- Giving birth to premature or underweight babies
- Pancreatic cancer, especially among men
Getting Help for Gum Disease
You can achieve optimal oral health by maintaining proper hygiene, learning how to identify oral diseases in time, and seeking professional treatment early.
If you’re suffering from gum disease, all is not lost. By checking with a restorative dentist in Chicago, your early signs of gum disease will be appropriately diagnosed and treated. An excellent dental facility will offer various gum surgery options, including gingivectomy, gingival flap surgery, gingivectomy, gingivoplasty, gum graft, and gum regeneration.