Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is a severe gum infection that damages the tissue around and below your teeth. Gum disease could cause severe complications like damage to the bone supporting the teeth and tooth loss. You could risk developing gum disease if you are a smoker, have poor oral hygiene, or suffer from other health conditions like diabetes.

For individuals with gum disease, early detection of the condition allows immediate treatment and prevents further complications. The condition could be treated and reversed when detected in its early stages through dental scaling, root planning, and other simple procedures.

You can seek dental care by realizing the symptoms associated with the conditions. You can spot the signs of gum disease on your own or with your dentist at regular dental appointments. The following are common symptoms of gum disease:

Bad Breath

Bad breath, or halitosis, is a common oral health condition. Although poor oral hygiene can result in bad breath, unpleasant mouth odors may indicate a more serious oral health complication. Bad breath accompanied by a bad taste in the mouth is a symptom of gum disease that should not be ignored.

Bad breath from gum disease is caused by plaque and tartar that harden your mouth and gums. Plaque is often filled with bacteria and cannot be cleaned through basic oral hygiene routines. Bacteria in plaque cause an infection in the gums and other tissues. When left untreated, the infected area will emit an unpleasant smell.

Bad breath is an uncomfortable condition. Individuals with this problem could be self-conscious in their interactions with others and have lowered self-esteem. You should consult your dentist if you have bad breath that does not go away when you brush or floss your teeth.

Since bad breath is not always a sign of gum disease, your dentist will assess other factors to determine if your bad breath is associated with an infection in your gums. Deep teeth cleaning will resolve bad breath in the early stages of gum disease. In the progressive stages of gum disease, the disease must be treated to avoid bad breath.

Malocclusion

Teeth malocclusion is a dental condition where teeth no longer fit together or are misaligned when you bite. This condition may be detected through:

  • Underbite. An underbite is when your lower jaw protrudes further than your upper jaw.
  • You have an overbite when the teeth of your upper jaw protrude further than the lower jaw.
  • Crossbite. A crossbite is when your upper jaw teeth overlap with those of the lower jaw on the side of your mouth.

Multiple factors, including gum disease, can cause malocclusion. When bacteria from your mouth damage your gum tissues, they will progress to the bone supporting the teeth, making them loosen. Depending on the location of gum disease, loose teeth will not align when you bite.

Malocclusion is detected during your routine dental checkups. Your dentist will perform an X-ray to determine the extent of the misalignment. In addition to being a symptom of gum disease, malocclusion can cause other dental complications. Therefore, you may need additional treatment procedures to correct this condition after gum disease treatment.

Painful Chewing or Biting

Gum disease begins at the gums surrounding your teeth and goes deeper as the infection progresses. With time, your teeth will have receded, allowing bacteria to enter the inner part of the tooth. This can cause damage to the bones and muscles that support your teeth. Chewing or biting puts pressure on the infected area, causing pain in the gums and jaws.

The pain caused by gum disease when you bite or chew differs from ordinary toothaches and could radiate to the jaw. If you experience pain when you chew your food and have no decayed teeth, you should book an appointment with your dentist.

Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity is the pain and discomfort you experience when you eat or drink hot or cold foods and drinks. Additionally, acidic and sweet drinks can also cause your teeth to be sensitive. Tooth sensitivity occurs when extreme temperatures come into contact with the dentin of your tooth. Sensitivity could range from mild tingling to severe pain and discomfort.

While tooth sensitivity may be a symptom of varying dental conditions, gum disease is a common cause of sensitivity. The bacterial infection on your gums causes your gums to recede, exposing the sensitive inner tooth to external factors.

Individuals with tooth sensitivity experience severe discomfort that could impact their dietary intake. Therefore, your tooth sensitivity should be addressed. If the sensitivity is severe, you should immediately book an appointment with your dentist. Otherwise, you can mention it to the dentist at your regular checkups.

Swollen Gums

Swelling of the gums is a common reaction to many health issues, including infections, vitamin deficiencies, hormonal changes, and gum disease. Swollen gums have a red or purple appearance due to the increased blood flow in the area. Gum swelling could resolve on its own or with minimal treatment. If swelling does not disappear within one or two days, it may be assigned to a more severe complication like gum disease.

When you are in the advanced stages of gum disease, you can experience swelling and pain in the gums. Most people try to resolve gum swelling by rinsing the mouth with salt water and turmeric. However, this remedy will only be effective for mild causes of gum disease. Consulting a dentist to check the cause of gum swelling is critical to detecting and treating gum disease before you suffer further dental complications.

Bleeding Gums

Another common symptom of gingivitis is bleeding of the gums. Although bleeding of the gums could be caused by other conditions like aggressive brushing, injury to your teeth, or blood clotting disorders, dentists advise that you seek dental care if you experience this symptom. A severe gum infection caused by periodontitis can cause your gums to bleed when you chew food or brush your teeth. The bleeding from your gums increases as the condition progresses.

While mouthwash, salt water rinse, and ice cubes may stop the bleeding momentarily, you will need a dentist to determine whether you have gum disease and recommend appropriate treatment.

Receding Gums

Gum recession is an oral health condition where the gums move away from your teeth, exposing the tooth root and other inner components of the tooth. This makes your teeth vulnerable to cavities and increases your risk of tooth sensitivity. Gum recession is common and can occur in one or multiple teeth.

If you experience pain along the gum line, sensitivity, and discomfort when you brush your teeth, you may need to consult your dentist for a checkup. This is because gum recession is a symptom of periodontitis. Although your dentist cannot reverse gum recession, gum disease treatment can prevent the condition from worsening.

While receding gums may be a sign of gum disease, periodontitis is not the only factor that causes this condition. During your dental checkup, your dentist will determine whether the receding gums are caused by gum disease or the following conditions:

  • Poor oral hygiene. Inadequate brushing of your teeth can cause plaque to build up on your gums and teeth, causing your gums to move away from the teeth.
  • Even with proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits, some people are prone to developing receding gums.
  • Hormonal changes. Some people develop gum recession issues during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. This is a result of severe hormonal fluctuations.
  • Crooked teeth. You may be at risk of gum recession if you have a misaligned bite or crooked teeth.

You should never ignore your symptoms of gum recession. Your dentist will assess all factors of your oral health to determine the underlying cause of the receding gums. The dentist can then recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

Severe Toothache

Gum disease is a progressive condition that starts with gingivitis and becomes periodontitis when left untreated. When the condition has progressed and caused damage to the bones supporting your teeth, you could experience severe pain. This is a result of nerve damage caused by the bacteria. Toothaches associated with gum disease can radiate to the jawbone and sometimes cause headaches.

The best way to treat toothache from gum disease is to seek treatment for the underlying condition. Through scaling, root planning, or surgery, your dentist can help remove the plaque and clean out the infected part of the tooth. Your dentist may also prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection. This helps prevent further damage to the gums and eases toothaches.

Gum Abscess

An abscess is a pus-filled pocket that develops in your mouth or gums. A gum abscess is a painful condition that could indicate gum disease. A gum abscess forms when bacteria from the mouth cause an infection of the gum tissues. The abscess is filled with pus and can result in severe pain and discomfort.

A gum abscess will appear as a boil or pimple on the gums. You could also experience gum swelling and redness. In addition to visual observation of a dental abscess, your dentist may perform an X-ray to check the severity of the infection. The X-ray will also help determine if the infection on the gums has damaged the jawbone.

Teeth Loosening

A loose tooth is an unpleasant feeling around your mouth and a warning sign for potential tooth loss. Since gum disease is an infection, it spreads throughout your gums and teeth. When left untreated or when there is delayed identification of the condition, the infection will affect the bones that support your teeth. This will cause your teeth to feel loose and eventually fall off. If you experience loose teeth, you should seek immediate dental care.

Loose Partial Dentures

Your dentist recommends partial dentures to replace several missing teeth on the upper or lower jaw. The remaining teeth on your jaw must be healthy to receive these dental restorations. This is because your healthy teeth act as support for the dentures. Your dentures will be custom-made to fit the gaps left in your mouth by missing teeth. This helps ensure the dentures are comfortable and do not fall off when you chew or speak.

When you have advanced gum disease, your teeth weaken and sometimes shift from their original position. This could cause a problem with the fit of your dentures. If the teeth supporting the dentures are loose, they could slip out when you chew or open your mouth. This will not only be uncomfortable but also embarrassing for you.

Your dental visits do not end after tooth restoration and will not end when the dentures are fitted. You must continue to make regular dental visits. If your dentures stop fitting correctly or you feel uncomfortable, you should report the issue to your dentist during checkups. After an assessment, the dentist will determine whether the poor fit is caused by gum disease and recommend the necessary treatment.

Find Expert Dental Services Near Me

Sometimes, the symptoms of gum disease can progress without pain or other severe symptoms. This could make detecting the problem challenging and prompting dental care. While the symptoms of gum disease may be mild for some individuals, the condition does not arise without warning signs. Understanding the symptoms associated with gum disease helps you know when it is time to seek dental care.

After consulting your dentist, they will assess your teeth and gums to determine whether the symptoms you are experiencing are of gum disease or another dental condition. Gum disease ranges in severity. In the early stages, you may experience discomfort and inflammation of the guns. In the late stages of the condition, you may suffer from tooth loss, tooth shifting, and other severe complications.

Your dentist will develop a treatment plan for your condition, depending on the severity of your condition. Your oral health is a critical part of your overall well-being. Therefore, if you experience symptoms of gum disease, you must consult a knowledgeable dentist for assessment and treatment. At Northridge Advanced Dentistry, we offer safe and reliable dental services for all our clients battling gum disease in Northridge, CA. Call us at 818-701-3010 to book an appointment.