Recognizing Early Symptoms of Gum Disease and Treatment Options

Diligent oral care forms a formidable defense against gum disease, but it’s not uncommon for gum infection to creep up on your oral health. Besides poor oral hygiene, smoking, dry mouth, stress, genetics, and certain medical conditions can put you at risk of periodontal disease. Given the ubiquitous nature of gum disease, it’s essential to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to prevent it from advancing.

Although gum disease is a severe condition, the good news is that it’s easily treatable when caught early. Dr. Evelyn Maggos and her dental team at Park Dental Care are happy to provide periodontal therapy to detect, treat, and prevent gum disease. 

Understanding gum disease

The primary cause of gum infection is built-in plaque and tartar in your teeth and beneath the gum. When you fail to observe proper dental hygiene, food mixes with saliva and bacteria to form a sticky, clear film (dental plaque) on your teeth. Plaque begins forming hours after brushing and remains there until your next brushing. 

If you don’t eliminate plaque, it calcifies into tartar that only a dentist can remove. You might think you’ve time to avoid tartar, but plaque only takes 48 hours to harden into dental calculus! 

Plaque and tartar form optimal habitats for harmful bacteria to flourish. Once bacteria begin to thrive, they attack your gingival tissues, and soon periodontal pockets start forming around your teeth. Before you know it, your gum tissues start receding, and your teeth become loose and eventually fall out!

Early symptoms of gum disease

As mentioned, treating gum disease is easy when it’s detected early. So, it’s vital to keep your eyes peeled for the early symptoms of periodontal disease to seek prompt intervention.