One of the most common oral health issues that patients experience is periodontal disease. Even with reasonable oral care, patients may notice their gums turning red, swelling or bleeding. If this is the case, it’s time to visit the dentist.

Do I Have Gum Disease?

There are certain signs of periodontal disease to look out for to ensure that you get the treatment you need as early as possible. Some of the different signs of periodontal disease include:

• Redness of the Gums
• Swelling of the Gums
• Bleeding Gums
• Gum Recession
• Bad Breath
• Loose Teeth

If you are experiencing any of the issues listed above, it’s imperative to schedule an appointment with your dentist. If they discover that you are suffering from periodontal disease, they can take the appropriate steps to treat the ailment and reverse any damage.

Risk Factors

While gum disease is generally caused by poor oral care, there are other risk factors that can contribute to infection and inflammation of the gums. These risk factors include:

• Smoking or Tobacco Use
• Pregnancy
• Malocclusion of Teeth
• Medications
• Genetics

If you are smoking or using tobacco, you increase your risks for a variety of different oral health issues. For the other situations listed above, speak with your dentist to ensure your ongoing oral health.

Stages of Gum Disease

When people think of gum disease, they often picture gingivitis. There are actually different stages of periodontal disease, though—with each stage more devastating than the last. Below are three stages of periodontal disease:

Gingivitis

The first stage of gum disease is gingivitis. This is the easiest stage to treat, and can generally be treated with a deep cleaning. Patients suffering from gingivitis can expect bleeding gums, redness of the gums, swelling, bad breath and a bad taste in their mouth.

Periodontitis

If gingivitis is left untreated, the disease will become worse. This will eventually lead to periodontitis. At this point, severe damage is being done to the gums, bone tissue and teeth. At this stage, surgery may be required and some damage may be beyond repair.

Advanced Periodontitis

At this stage, damage is so severe that a good amount of it is irreparable. Teeth may be loose and falling out, and the gums have severely receded. Some teeth may need to be pulled. The dentist will do everything they can to save the remaining teeth, but there will be lasting damage to at least some of the teeth.

Treatment Options

If you have been diagnosed with gum disease, or if you notice your gums are bleeding, swelling or becoming discolored, you should seek treatment. With regular trips to the dentist every six months for a cleaning and checkup, it’s likely that your dentist will catch the periodontal disease while it is still in the gingivitis stage. At that point, a deep cleaning may be all that is required.

Speak with your dentist about your periodontal disease and the treatment options that you have available to restore your gums.

More on Gum Disease : Signs of Gum Disease