Gum (Periodontal) Disease
Encinitas, CA
There are all kinds of nasty diseases in the world. Maybe you’ve heard of a few. Smallpox, chickenpox, or really nasty disease like the Black Plague or yellow fever. While these diseases are horrible, we are happy to tell you that gum disease pales in comparison. While gum disease is not nearly as horrible as the Black Death, it is a serious disease. If you don’t take care of your mouth, you can have serious consequences when it comes to gum disease. Need more information? Let Encinitas Periodontics & Dental Implants give you information on gum disease and how to prevent it.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a disease that happens to your gums. It is an infection. While some infections you can get in your body are painful, gum disease usually isn’t painful in the beginning stages. Bacteria in your mouth cause gum disease and the bacteria are always present in your mouth. If you have good oral hygiene, you can wash some of the bacteria away through brushing and using mouthwash. Brushing and flossing your teeth keeps the bacteria at bay. However, just because you brush and floss regularly doesn’t mean you can’t get gum disease.
What Are the Stages of Gum Disease?
There are three stages of gum disease. The first stage of the disease is called gingivitis. Millions of Americans suffer from gingivitis each year. If you are suffering from gingivitis, symptoms may include: your gums are redder than they should be, and they may be swollen. You might also notice that your gums bleed easily. Gingivitis is easily treated, and once we treat your gums, your gums won’t suffer from any permanent damage.
If you have stage two of gum disease, it is called early periodontitis or mild periodontitis. If you have the second stage of gum disease, spaces develop between your teeth and gums. We call these spaces, pockets. Infection can live within the pockets, and that creates problems for your gums. There are signs that your gums are in stage two of periodontitis. Your gums may be separating or pulling away from your teeth. You may also have noticed that you have bad breath, or you may notice a bad taste in your mouth. You might also notice an infection between your teeth and gums, especially on the gumline. We can treat gum disease at stage two, but you could have damage to your gums that we can’t cure.
Stage three of gum disease is more serious. Your gums may have shrunk or receded from your teeth. You also may see an infection of your gums. Teeth in your mouth where the infection is may be loose. Teeth become loose because of the distance between your teeth and gums, and because diseased gum tissue tends to recede. Over time, you may notice you have problems chewing your food. If you have bridges, dentures, or crowns, they don’t fit the way they used to.
If you are having a problem with your gums, we can help. Give Encinitas Periodontics & Dental Implants a call at 760-632-9055. |
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