Seeing small amounts of blood after brushing may not seem like a big deal. But if it starts happening more often, it could be enough to make you question: Do I have gum disease? Our dentist shares a list of signs that may indicate you need gum disease treatment.
Signs That Suggest You May Have Gum Disease
Gum disease spreads silently at first. Keep an eye out for these changes in your gum health:
Redness around your gumline
This is one of the starting signs. Plaque buildup allows harmful bacteria to accumulate around the gumline, leading to inflammation.
As a result, you’ll notice that your gums, especially the margins, look redder.
Your gums bleed too often
A common thing many people overlook is when their gums bleed when they brush or floss. It shouldn’t happen if your gums are healthy, or at least shouldn’t occur too often.
If you see blood every time you spit after cleaning your teeth, that’s a warning signal. Patients with advanced gum disease may sometimes experience spontaneous bleeding.
Soreness in your gums
When you feel pain in a specific area of the mouth, it may be related to a particular tooth. But when there’s a dull ache overall when you chew, it could happen because your gum health is compromised.
Advanced gum disease can damage the gums and supporting structures around the teeth, making chewing uncomfortable.
Gums pulling away from the teeth
Are your teeth starting to look longer than before? It could happen if your gums are pulling away. Gum disease is one of the main causes of a receding gumline, and you should get an evaluation as soon as possible.
Your teeth feel loose
Your gums and jawbone hold your teeth in place. However, when gum disease spreads, it destroys the supportive foundation of your teeth, even causing bone loss.
Loose or shifting teeth are a major warning sign that you need to seek gum disease treatment immediately.
How Dentists Treat Gum Disease
The good news is that it’s possible to treat gum disease, especially if it’s caught early. Our experienced dentist, Dr. Krell, provides personalized plans, which may include:
Scaling and root planing
It’s a deep cleaning treatment that removes plaque buildup both above and beneath your gumline. We may combine it with antibiotic therapy to further reduce harmful bacteria.
Laser therapy
This procedure uses a dental laser. It helps to remove the infected gum tissue while saving your healthy gums.
Gum surgery
If gum disease is advanced, you may be recommended to have procedures like pocket reduction surgery, gum grafting or bone grafting procedures.
Summing Up
Now that you’re aware of the signs of gum disease, you can seek treatment before it gets worse. If you see any of these signs, reach out to our dentist at John H. Krell D.D.S today for an evaluation and gum disease treatment options. Call (713) 877-1775 to schedule your appointment!