Don’t Ignore the Early Warning Signs of Gum Disease
As is true of many health conditions, gum disease doesn’t begin as a huge problem. It starts small and causes little warning signs that you may not even notice. As those symptoms get worse, and the disease gets more severe, then you may be facing some serious consequences. The good news is that if you treat gum disease before it become a huge problem, it’s typically easy to treat.
Read on to discover some of the early warning signs that you may have gum disease. If you experience any of them, reach out to your dentist for a full exam and dental cleaning. Contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 today to set up your appointment.
Bleeding and / or swollen gums
Two of the most obvious early signs of gum disease are having gums that are either swollen or bleeding. Do your gums seem darker than they usually are? If so, that may mean they’re irritated. Essentially, the bacteria that can eventually turn into gum disease will start by irritating your gums. It’s a good sign that now is the time to take action.
Chronic bad breath
Bad breath can be a sign of a lot of different health conditions, including gum disease. The bacteria that leads to gum disease can also cause very bad breath. If that bacteria hangs around too long, then gum disease can be a result. If you have bad breath, don’t assume that there’s nothing you can do about it or that it’s not a big deal. Reach out to your California dentist today.
Your gums hurt
If your gums are inflamed, bleeding, or swollen then it’s likely they’re going to hurt. Any time you have pain in your gums, it’s likely that they’re reacting to some type of bacteria. If you find that it hurts to touch your gums, or that it hurts to brush your teeth, then you may have the early signs of gum disease. It can also lead to pain in your tooth, or just generalized pain in the mouth. Any of these conditions should result in a quick call to your dentist.
These early signs can be reversed
No one wants to experience the above symptoms of gum disease but the good news is that they can be reversed. That said, this is only true of the early stages of gum disease. Once it advances, there may be permanent damage. Of course, we can treat it but it may involve more significant treatment and leave you with lifelong consequences.
Not treating gum disease can lead to lost teeth
The bad news is that if you don’t treat gum disease early, it can lead to losing your teeth. To prevent that issue, reach out to California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 right away. Visit one of our numerous California offices to get a full exam and to find out what your options are to treat any oral health issues you have.
