Don’t Miss These Early Signs of Gum Disease

More than 40% of American adults have gum disease, along with increased risks of deep infections and tooth loss. While gum disease can be treated, seeking care early is essential. That means you need to know what signs to look for.

Abir Faraj, DDS, is a leading provider of gum disease treatment for patients at Novi Family Dentistry in Novi, Michigan, halting disease progression and restoring healthy teeth and gums. In this post, Dr. Faraj and her team review some of the earliest — and most subtle — signs to watch for.

Bleeding when brushing or flossing

Bleeding gum tissue is a hallmark of gum disease, yet many people tend to ignore it, in part because it’s usually not associated with pain. Bottom line: Healthy gums don’t bleed, but gums infected by periodontal disease often do.

In gum disease, bleeding happens when bacteria along your gum line irritate your gums and cause inflammation and swelling. You’re most likely to see bleeding when your toothbrush or flosser irritates swollen gums further, causing that familiar pink swirl in the sink when you rinse.

The good news is that painless bleeding when brushing or flossing is often a sign of early gum disease, and taking prompt action can help prevent further problems, like deep infections and tooth loss.

Swollen or tender gums

Gums that look puffy or feel sore are another signal that your body is responding to bacteria buildup along and below your gums. Inflammation is a natural response to irritation and infection, and it’s also a key sign of advancing gum disease.

Like bleeding, tenderness may increase when you brush or floss, or when you eat crunchy or hard foods. In addition to puffiness, your gums may appear red or purplish, another sign of inflammation.

Chronic bad breath or sour taste

Most of us have bad breath from time to time, usually from smelly foods like garlic or onions (or maybe because we’re not brushing as well as we should). In these instances, regular brushing and flossing are usually enough to eliminate bad breath. 

But with gum disease, that bad odor can linger, despite how well you brush and floss. That’s because with gum disease, bad breath is caused by germs that produce foul-smelling byproducts as they grow and multiply. These byproducts cause chronic bad breath, sometimes accompanied by a persistent sour taste.

Receding gums

Gum recession happens when germs along your gumline irritate gum tissue, causing the tissue to pull away from tooth surfaces. The result: More tooth surface is exposed, and the germs move down your tooth, causing your gums to recede even further. 

As the recession continues, pockets around your teeth allow germs to invade deeper, sometimes all the way to your tooth roots. Over time, bacteria weaken the roots, dramatically increasing your risk of tooth loss.

Don’t ignore the signs

Bleeding, tender, and receding gums are all indications of early gum disease and should never be ignored. Early treatment is key to preserving your beautiful, healthy smile and preventing infections from advancing.

To learn more about gum disease treatment or to schedule an evaluation for gum disease, book an appointment with Dr. Faraj and our team by calling 313-646-7903 or scheduling online today.