Natural Care Publishing

Periodontal diseases are often hard to notice in the first stages as they are often mild and painless. It is not until it has progressed to periodontitis or advanced periodontitis that you realize your gums are infected. However, recognizing the early symptoms of periodontal disease can help you prevent its debilitating effects to your overall health and reverse the infection. A visit to the dentist can confirm the status of your gum’s health and be able to determine the appropriate periodontal disease treatment, if it is deemed necessary. Here are just a few of the early tell-tale signs of periodontal disease.
Bad breath is often an indication of a periodontal disease. The foul smell comes from the sulfur released by the bacteria as well as the infection in the gums. However, it is important to rule out certain medical conditions such as systemic diseases like diabetes, diet and lifestyle to determine the cause of halitosis. As you know, a low carbohydrates diet regimen can cause bad breath due to the chemical ketones released when the body burns fats. But if you have a foul taste in the mouth, it is more likely that you have a gum infection. Consult your dentist right away if you suffer from halitosis.
Swollen and inflamed gums are another indication of gum infection. While it is often painless in the first few weeks, ignoring it could eventually lead to serious gum infections, such as periodontitis. To know if you have swollen and inflamed gums, take a very look good at your gums in the mirror. Healthy gums are often pink and undulated, compared to inflamed gums which are plump and red especially around the tooth. Often, it is accompanied by slight bleeding. You can notice this when you are brushing or flossing your teeth and see blood on your toothbrush and dental floss.
In more advanced stages, gum disease is often associated with painful and uncomfortable chewing. However, pain in one area or on one tooth only indicates cracked tooth or tooth decay. On the other hand, pain which is not localized to one area of the mouth can indicate periodontal disease. Loose teeth is also a “smoking gun”, an obvious evidence that you have periodontal disease at advanced stages. As always, it is important to consult your dentist to know if you have periodontal disease and the severity of the infection. If it is an indication of early stages of periodontitis, an appropriate periodontitis treatment may be administered in conjunction with proper oral hygiene.