This article describes the symptoms of gum disease so that patients, upon recognizing these signs, can seek prompt attention for this oral ailment in its infancy.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the vast majority of the American population presents with some form or stage of gum infection and disease. “As much as 80% of the population is walking around with an oral ailment that, if left without treatment, could eventually cause them to lose all of their teeth,” explains a specialist in the placement of dental implants in Houston; the dental technology used to replace teeth that have gone missing as a result of tooth decay and gum disease.

80% is a huge number! How is this possible and we don’t even know about it?

A Closer Look at Bacterial Gum Diseases

The problem with bacterial infections of the gums – known as ‘gingivitis’ in the beginning stages and advancing to periodontitis – is that they seldom cause much pain. Other than general sensitivity of the gums, the symptoms of this grave disease can quite easily be ignored for many years. It’s only when the more severe symptoms of tooth loss set in that people are forced to acknowledge that they have a serious health problem, by which stage they face the need for dental implants. This explains why few people, in the beginning stages, go for the prompt treatment they need in order to have a good standard of oral health and hygiene restored.

“Increasing awareness of the signs and symptoms of gum disease is the best place to start if we’re to reduce the incidence of this ailment in our country,” explain dental implant specialists in Houston. “By abolishing ignorance surrounding these major oral health issues, more patients will come for treatment before the disease is allowed to progress to a stage where it can do permanent damage, leaving patients in dire need of rehabilitative techniques, such as All on 4 implants.”

So, what should we be on the lookout for?

Symptoms to look out for

In the initial stages of periodontitis (at which stage the disease is referred to as ‘gingivitis’), patients can present with one or more of the following symptoms:

• Red and inflamed gums,
• Gums that are swollen and have encroached upon the crowns of the teeth,
• Chronic bad breath,
• Gums that tend to tear and bleed easily when brushed.

In the advanced stages of periodontitis (gum disease), patients can present with both the above-mentioned symptoms and any number and combination of the following:

• Visible accumulations of plaque and tartar (calculus) on and between the teeth,
• Gums that have receded abnormally from the crowns of the teeth,
• Oral sores and lesions that take a long time to heal, if at all,
• Brown mottling on the teeth and gums, especially at their margins,
• Loose teeth,
• Ultimately, tooth loss, at which stage dental implants become necessary.

“The important thing to realize is that none of these symptoms are normal. If your gums bleed when you brush them, you could already be on your way to having a serious problem,” explain dental implant experts in Houston. “You should seek prompt professional attention, even if it is just to rule out the possibility that you might have an oral bacterial infection.”

A Final Note: Good Dental Health

The only way to prevent oral bacterial infections is to maintain a rigorous home oral hygiene routine and to seek regular professional attention from your dentist. If you have noticed any of the above-mentioned symptoms, immediately book yourself an appointment with your dentist or you may find yourself facing the immediate need for All on 4 implant surgery!