5 Signs of Gum Disease

Wondering how to know if you have gum disease? Here are five signs that could mean you have a gum disease:

1. Bleeding, Red or Swollen Gums

If gums are infected, you might notice that they look and feel irritated. Redness and swelling is common. Gums may also bleed regularly when eating, brushing, or flossing.

2. Receding Gums

When a patient’s gums are infected, they may also notice gradual gum loss as the bacteria and infection eats away at their gums and enamel. This will happen slowly, so you may not notice the change day to day. Our Boise Dentists and hygienists, however, have a trained eye and can recognize the gum loss. Yet another reason to keep your annual dental check-up!

3. Perpetual Bad Breath

Have you noticed that your breath is always stale or smelly? While brushing your teeth regularly and brushing your tongue can help, gum disease can trap the bacteria in your mouth that gives you bad breath. If you can’t seem to get rid of bad breath, it’s probably time to see our Boise dentists about gum disease.

4. Painful Chewing and Sensitive Teeth

Gum disease affects a lot more than just your gum health. The infection caused by the disease can also eat away at tooth enamel, making your teeth much more sensitive and even causing pain when chewing. Our Boise dentists can check for dental disease and can also recommend a special toothpaste that will help protect sensitive teeth.

5. Loose Teeth and Gum Disease

As gum disease irritates and eats away at your gumline, it can undermine your teeth’s stability. A higher gumline can leave a tooth root exposed. Not only can this be painful, it can also loosen its hold in your jaw. Untreated, the tooth can continue to loosen and even become infected.

Do you recognize one or more of these signs? Regular brushing and flossing can help you keep good gum health and prevent gum disease, but if you are exhibiting more than one of these symptoms, it might be time to drop by our Boise dental office for an appointment. We’d be happy to help!