Signs And Symptoms Of Gum Disease

If you have gum disease, which is a serious infection in your gums, and it is left untreated, then you could be risking losing your teeth. Even more serious is the possibility of gum disease leading to life threatening heart disease and stroke. Gum disease, or periodontal disease, involves inflamed gums or gingiva, and in the early stages it may well involve no pain or discomfort at all.

Signs and symptoms may alternatively only be very slight, or may develop only in the later stages of the disease. There are however often warning signs present, and it is particularly important to note that the signs or symptoms of gum disease could also indicate other more serious illnesses, or that gum disease left untreated could lead to these later on.

The most common indicator of gum disease is bleeding of the gums during or after brushing of your teeth. Other signs and symptoms which people may experience include red, swollen or tender gums, shifting, loose teeth, bad breath, pockets forming between the teeth and the gums, receding gums and frequently experiencing a bad taste in the mouth.

You can still have some degree of gum disease even if you have no noticeable signs or symptoms, often because the disease is only present around some of the teeth, particularly those towards the back of the mouth, and these cases may only be detected by a dentist or periodontists examination. Regular check-ups are the surest way of detecting gum disease, especially in the early stages or if you have no noticeable signs or symptoms.

In the case of gum disease, prevention is much better than cure. This means regular oral hygiene in the form of brushing your teeth well twice a day at least, preferably accompanied by flossing every day and inter dental brushing. Antibacterial mouthwashes will also help. In addition, you should have regular check-ups with your dentist, and have your teeth professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Your dentist will remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and particularly from your gum line, and this reduces the risk of gum disease developing.

If you think you have signs of early gum disease, then you should consult your dentist straight away for an examination, as you should if you have any concerns at all about your dental or oral health. It is also advisable to make yourself aware of the usual signs and symptoms of this disease, and to be aware of any signs you may be exhibiting. Early detection of gum disease could even possibly save your life, because gum disease has been shown to lead in some cases to heart problems such as blocked arteries, as well as to strokes.

Looking after your gums:

While we are all aware of the need to look after our teeth most people neglect to look after their gums properly. The FDA consumer magazine reported that up to 75 percent of Americans over 35 have some form of gum disease.

A deep-cleaning, non-surgical method is called scaling and root planing SRP). Scaling scrapes the plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line. Root planing can smooths rough spots on a tooth's root where germs are and will help remove bacteria that may contribute to the disease. A smooth, clean surface helps the gums to reattach to the teeth.

One drug in the war against gum disease is Periostat (doxycycline hyclate) that the FDA approved in 1998 to be used in conjunction with SRP. While SRP gets rid of bacteria in the first instance, Periostat, which is taken orally, suppresses the action of collagenase, an enzyme that will cause destruction of teeth and gums.