Imagine you like chocolates so much that you make them a part of your diet. But what happens after you constantly consume chocolate and other sticky foods? What if you forget to brush? Your gums and teeth will end up getting gingivitis and cavities. In most severe cases, gum disease causes redness and swelling of your gums, which stops you from having them. Do you want to restrict yourself from having your favorite food for gum disease? Then get yourself treated if you get to see some alarming signs of gum disease.
What Does The Start Of Gum Disease Feel Like?
You won’t always get prominent symptoms at the beginning of gum disease. But there are certain signs which are inevitably present, like tender gums. Bleeding gums and pink-tinged toothbrushes after brushing are some of the early signs that you might have gum disease. Sometimes, while flossing too, you will find tender gums bleeding.
Warning Signs Of Gum Disease
Gum inflammation is one of the major warning signs of gum disease. Your gum tissues appear swollen and red and get easily irritated. Based on this, the following other warning signs of gum disease can be considered the most important:
- Bad breath
- Experiencing pain while chewing food
- Sensitivity in teeth
- Sudden change in your biting pattern
Can Gum Disease Go Away?
In most cases, dentists have observed that gingivitis can be reversed with the help of professional treatment. However, in the initial phase, you can opt for home oral care, but if gum inflammation is left ignored, it will lead to advanced gingivitis, something you cannot reverse. Before your gums get into this condition, get yourself treated with expert dental advice.
Causes Of Gum Disease
One primary reason for gum disease is plaque buildup on the teeth. Plaque contains bacteria and harms your gum health largely. If left untreated, your gums will get gingivitis, destroying oral health. On the other hand, starchy and sugary foods cause gum disease, eventually leading to tooth decay. Apart from this, the following are some of the more reasons that lead to gum disease:
- Poor oral health habits
- Hormonal changes like pregnancy or menopause and steroid intake
- Insufficient nutrition intake, like a vitamin C deficiency
- Smoking or tobacco use
What Are The Stages Of Gum Disease?
Stage 1: Gingivitis
If left untreated, gingivitis becomes periodontitis, which is destructive. In this stage, gum inflammation occurs due to bacteria buildup and plaque below the gumline.
Stage 2: Periodontitis
It is known as an advanced stage of gum disease. If you have periodontitis, the gums and bone structure get affected.
Stage 3: Periodontitis With Potential Tooth Loss
Once you reach the third stage of periodontitis, you need to worry. Your teeth might appear more extended because of the gum recession. This happens because of a lack of support in the gum line and might eventually require surgery.
Stage 4: Periodontitis With All Teeth Loss
This is the ultimate stage, where you know that your oral health is destroyed because of ignorance, and multiple periodontal diseases occur, which results in tooth loss. In this stage, you need to visit your dentist with utmost emergency.
Tips To Reduce Gum Disease
Now you know that gum disease can destroy your gum health badly. Specific ways might help you reverse gum disease’s effects with proper care and concern. The following are some of the methods which can be considered adequate:
- Try to brush your teeth twice daily.
- Practice flossing and make it a habit. This will help you remove food particles, which often get hand stuck and cause cavities.
- Rinse your mouth with anti-microbacterial mouthwash. It not only helps in preventing gingivitis and also helps in fighting bad breath and plaque.
- Avoid grinding your teeth, and try to maintain a proper biting habit. Constant grinding of your teeth might put excess force on the teeth tissues, which causes tooth break.
Conclusion
Gum disease is severe. If left untreated, it is capable of destroying your teeth and bones. You cannot have anymore of your favorite food if you lose teeth. You don’t want this, do you? Untreated gum disease leads to fatal consequences, which can only be resolved with proper dental care. If you see the alarming signs of gum disease mentioned above, visit your dentist and get expert advice on effectively preventing gum disease in its early stage.