Gum disease, if left untreated for a long period of time, can wreak havoc on your smile. That is why our Toluca Lake dentists are here to help you recognize symptoms of gum disease so that you can seek treatment before it becomes severe. Keep reading to learn more about the ways that gum disease manifests and changes your oral health.
Gum disease is caused by harmful oral bacteria that infect a patient’s oral tissues when these tissues are weak or compromised. This is why it’s so important that you keep up with your professional and at-home oral hygiene routines; you do not want to allow oral bacteria to accumulate and compound. Keep in mind that untreated cavities can also spread to the gum tissue.
The same oral bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease release unpleasant odors when they feed on sugars and multiply. For this reason, one early sign of gum disease is hard-to-treat bad breath. If you find that your breath feels stale or smells bad no matter how diligently you try to freshen it, it may be due to underlying gum disease.
Gum tissue that is infected may also be prone to bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth. Generally, the bleeding will dissipate over time, as your gums become healthier. Infected tissue often looks red and swollen, so make sure to talk to your dentist if your gums go from a lighter shade of pink to a deeper red.
With proper at-home care and state-of-the-art professional treatment, you can overcome persistent gum disease, and reclaim a healthy smile. Our Toluca Lake dentists are happy to give you more information about all of your treatment options. The best way to get started is to call our office to schedule a consultation or to use the Contact Us page on our website to submit an inquiry.