In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the major risks of gum disease if it's left untreated. Gum disease will typically start out relatively minor, but can quickly become a serious issue that threatens both your oral and overall health if it's not identified and controlled.
At Hillfield Pediatric & Family Dentistry, our general dentistry services in Layton include a number of techniques that help identify and manage gum disease risks. From basic mouth inspections and cleanings through several non-surgical gum treatments we may use if you or your child are dealing with gum disease issues, we'll keep you protected from these sorts of problems. Here are a few of the risks you face if you don't pay attention to the signs of gum disease.
Key Risks of Untreated Gum Disease
We left off in part one by discussing the stages of gum disease and how it progresses from a minor condition into a major risk. If you allow this to happen, here are some of the possible oral and overall health issues you may deal with:
- Tender and bleeding gums: These are the first signs of gum disease, and they're relatively easy to spot if you know what to look for. These can also easily progress into more serious issues that require a professional treatment by a dentist or periodontist.
- Major tooth sensitivity or tooth loss: These are the two most common risks of gum disease that come from a failure to seek treatment. If you have serious tooth sensitivity or your teeth start falling out, it's time to step in and let us help you with this issue before it's too late.
- Bone loss: This is one of the major causes of tooth loss if you suffer from periodontitis. You may not notice this at first, but over time your jawbone will begin to weaken and you risk a number of serious oral health issues.
- Other health conditions: Gum disease has also been linked to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, low birth weight babies, and more. If you have gum disease for an extended period of time, it's important to get in touch with your dentist today so you can start protecting yourself from these sorts of risks.
Signs Gum Disease is Progressing
How can you tell that you have gum disease, or that existing gum disease is worsening? Here are a few telltale signs:
- Bleeding and swollen gums: These are the first signs of gum disease, and they're relatively easy to spot if you know what to look for. These can also easily progress into more serious issues that require a professional treatment by a dentist or periodontist.
- Sensitive teeth: If your teeth become sensitive, it's time to act on this before you lose any of them. Sensitive teeth can be a sign of gum disease as well as several other conditions, so let us help you figure out the source of this issue.
- Persistent bad breath: This is usually a sign of gum disease, along with several other oral health conditions. If you have bad breath that doesn't go away no matter how many times you brush your teeth, see your dentist today for an examination so we can help provide the treatment you need.
- Receding gums: This is another warning sign that should not be ignored. Over time, if your gums recede and pull away from your teeth, you face serious risks including tooth loss and other conditions.
For more on why it's vital to treat gum disease immediately if it's identified, or to learn about any of our general or pediatric dental services in Layton, speak to the staff at Hillfield Pediatric & Family Dentistry today.
