People frequently concentrate on how their stunning teeth will look to others when they smile and forget about the gums that are supporting their pearly whites. Remember that your teeth will not look lovely if not for the gums holding them. Oral health is not all about the teeth, as the gums are also responsible for keeping your teeth intact.

Now that gum disease is becoming more common, we’ll talk about the early indications you need to look out for to keep your positive and healthy smile.

Indicators of Gum Disease

Gum disease is an inflammation and infection of the gums and bones supporting the teeth. It’s called gingivitis in its early stage and periodontitis in its more severe form. This is why it’s encouraged by professionals to be consistent with dental cleanings and exams to prevent or even treat oral conditions that may disrupt your self-confidence and affect your entire health. So below are the five major indicators of gum disease to help you be proactive in going to the dentist should you experience any of them.

1. Declining gums

If you’re experiencing gum recession, your gum disease has gotten more serious. Poor oral health can make the gums look inflamed, and your gum line appears lower in some teeth than others. Receding gums can cause the tooth roots to be exposed, putting the teeth at risk of cavities, infections, tooth loss, and extreme sensitivity. This is a health concern your dentist must know immediately to prevent more serious dental problems.

If you’re having gum surgery to repair your receding gums and considering dental implants, you should completely recover first. It’s essential to ensure your oral health is in excellent condition before proceeding to have your oral implants. You may visit this page to see the benefits of dental implants.

2. Bad breath

Persistent foul breath and an unpleasant taste in the mouth may indicate gum disease. When you disregard tooth brushing or flossing daily, you’re encouraging bacterial growth in the mouth, which causes halitosis. If this continues, the plaque buildup on the teeth can cause toxins that might eventually result in gum disease.

Tooth cavities can also contribute to the advancement of gum disease and turn fresh breath into foul breath. So if you have dental caries that need dental fillings to be addressed, book an appointment with a family dental center in Albuquerque, NM immediately to fix it.

3. Tooth sensitivity

When drinking cold or hot beverages, do you experience tooth sensitivity and severe pain? This is a sign of tooth exposure and gum recession. Gum recession and pocketing are two major symptoms of gum disease and can trigger sensitive teeth. If your teeth seem alright and don’t have any cavities, but the sensitivity aggravates, you must see your dentist, as this might be caused by gum disease.

4. Loose teeth

Teeth that feel wiggly, loose, or weak indicate severe gum disease. Bacterial infections can form small pockets beneath the gum line, causing the gum to separate from the tooth root. When the decay sets in, it can be excruciating and may require tooth extraction. This can be repaired with pocket reduction, a treatment to bring the gum tissue into contact with the tooth root.

Do you have a loose tooth that you want to save? This can be possible with endodontics treatment. The dentist in Albuquerque, New Mexico, can preserve your loose tooth through root canal treatment.

5. Bleeding, swollen, or aching gums

Gums that hurt or bleed might be triggered by gum disease. Healthy gums should not bleed when you brush and floss. Without regular tooth brushing and flossing, plaque will collect and eventually irritate the gums, making them sensitive, swollen, and susceptible to bleeding.