Missing a tooth when you’re a kid can be cute, but that is certainly not the case when you’re an adult. In the United States, about 178 million people are missing at least one tooth, and approximately 40 million are missing all of their teeth.
As a result, these people are left to figure out replacement options so they can continue to chew, talk, and smile with ease and confidence.
While there are several roads that lead to missing teeth, gum disease, or periodontitis, tops the list. Unfortunately, nearly half of Americans aged 30 and older (46%) show signs of gum disease, placing them at much greater risk for tooth loss and other complications.
While gum disease may seem like nothing but bad news, there is cause for optimism: Gum disease is reversible if you catch it in the early stages. To help you do just that, our team of dental experts here at LaSante Health Center pulled together a few early signs to watch out for.
In the early stages of gum disease, harmful bacteria set up around your gumline and go to work, eating away at the soft and hard tissues. As a result of the attack, your gums can become swollen and red around the edges. They can also be more sensitive when this occurs.
The good news is that this early stage, which we call gingivitis, is easily remedied with a professional cleaning here at our clinic. During this visit, we clear away the plaque around your gumline that’s harboring the bacteria.
You brush your teeth and, when you rinse, there’s blood mixed in with the toothpaste and water. This is a common symptom of early gum disease and one you shouldn't ignore.
As with the inflammation we describe above, a thorough teeth cleaning is often enough to get your gums healthy again, which should take care of the bleeding.
If the early stages of gum disease go untreated and the bacteria get up under your gums, you could start to notice some gum recession. As your gums pull away from your teeth, this allows even more bacteria to get in and wreak havoc.
If your gums are receding, come see us straight away so that we can perform a deep cleaning, or root planing and scaling procedure. This technique is very effective in reversing the course of gum disease and preserving your teeth and gums.
When bacteria start to erode your gums, they release a gas that can lead to bad breath. And the infection in your gums can lead to dead tissue, which can contribute to halitosis.
In the more advanced stages of gum disease, the symptoms become even harder to ignore and include loose teeth, pain, and eventually tooth loss. But there’s no reason you should ever reach this point if you take prompt action at the first signs of any of the issues we outlined above.
For skilled and experienced gum disease care, please contact our clinic in Brooklyn, New York, today. We serve the Flatbush and East Flatbush, Crown Heights, Park Slope, Little Haiti, Little Caribbean, and Prospect Lefferts Gardens communities.
