Gum disease is a serious issue that can affect the appearance and function of patients’ teeth, especially if it goes unaddressed for too long. However, with patients visiting dental offices in Mukilteo or Mill Creek, WA for regular dental care, dentists can identify and address gum disease before it progresses. Here is an in-depth look at the various signs, causes, and symptoms that accompany gum disease:

Signs of Gum Disease

Signs of gum disease include anything that an outsider, such as a dentist may observe. A dentist may diagnose gum disease based on the level of recession in the gums. Another sign of gum disease might be the depth of the gum pocket surrounding each tooth. Using a periodontal probe, a periodontist or dentist can determine how healthy the connective tissues surrounding each tooth are. These signs of gum disease can help a dentist or periodontist diagnose the stage of gum disease and prescribe the correct treatment.

Causes of Gum Disease

There are a few different factors that can bring about gum disease. The most common cause is poor dental care. When patients do not brush their teeth twice a day and do not floss once a day, then they are likely to develop gingivitis and eventually periodontitis. If patients do not visit their dentist for regular dental checkups and dental cleanings, then their gum disease is likely to progress to dangerous and irreversible levels. This could mean painful and expensive periodontal treatments, such as a scaling and planing procedure.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

Symptoms of gum disease occur when the patient experiences common symptoms. These might include bleeding when the patient brushes and flosses his or her teeth. Other symptoms might be ongoing bad breath—also known as halitosis—tenderness in the gums, and loose or shifting teeth. Bleeding and halitosis may be symptoms of mild gum disease or gingivitis, and they must be addressed soon to prevent the progression into periodontitis or advanced periodontitis.