Your teeth may steal much of the spotlight, but it’s really your gums that are doing a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to your oral health. These soft tissues protect and seal your teeth, as well as secure them in place, so it’s incredibly important to keep your gums in the best health possible.
Unfortunately, millions of Americans have less-than-healthy gums — 1 in 2 men and 1 out of every 3 women 30 years and older in the United States have some degree of periodontitis, or gum disease. And these numbers fuel this next stat — 40 million Americans are missing all of their teeth, largely due to gum disease or tooth decay.
The team at Willow Glen Dental Specialists has one overriding goal — to help our patients preserve and protect their teeth and gums. While we can closely monitor your mouth for periodontal disease during your biannual cleanings and annual dental exams, we want you to recognize early signs of trouble in your gums, three of which we review below.
The earliest stage of periodontal disease is called gingivitis, which describes inflammation around your gumline. This minor swelling occurs when bacteria try to get under your gums, where they can really do some damage to the hard and soft tissues that are holding your teeth in place.
As the bacteria advance, your gums fight back, which is what creates the inflammation and often slight redness around your gums. And this inflammation can also render your gums more sensitive than they usually are.
If your gums become puffy, red, and inflamed, it means there’s more blood flow in these tissues as your body delivers resources to fight the periodontal infection. As a result, your regular brushing and flossing routine can become slightly bloody — you might notice a red or pinkish tint when you spit out your toothpaste or rinse your mouth with water.
The bleeding usually occurs when you’re doing something around your gums, like the aforementioned brushing and flossing, and it isn’t ongoing.
If the sensitive, swollen, and bleeding gums aren’t enough to grab your attention, maybe the idea of bad breath is. When bacteria eat away at the tissues in your mouth, they release gasses, which have an unpleasant odor. So, an early sign of gum disease is bad breath.
If you notice any changes or discomfort in your gums, it's always a good idea to come see us as soon as possible. The great news is that, if we catch your gum disease early on, it’s fairly easy to remedy the issue — typically a good cleaning can clear away the bacteria. On the contrary, if you wait too long, you run the risk of losing teeth and requiring far more dental work.
To keep your gums in the pink of health, please contact our office in San Jose, California, by calling 408-478-9081. Or, if you prefer, you can book an appointment with us online.
