Regular oral hygiene is vital to your dental health. It helps your teeth stay clean and helps prevent gum disease. Tending to your teeth regularly also helps you notice any problems before they have a chance to become serious. This is particularly true in regards to gum disease. If your gums bleed when you brush, this is a common symptom that gum disease might be developing.
How Do I Tell If I Have Gum Disease?
Unfortunately, gum disease can develop without producing major symptoms. As with any health problem, it’s better to receive treatment before the issue becomes serious. This is one reason why you should see the dentist regularly. Your dentist is more likely to see signs of developing gum disease before you do. However, if you practice diligent oral hygiene, you might notice some common signs of gum disease in its early stages, including:
- Bleeding when you brush your teeth
- Swelling along the gum line
- A red, purple, or shiny look to your gums
- Pus or pimple-like growths on the gums
If you notice any of these symptoms, be sure to see your dentist as soon as possible.
Treatment for Gum Disease
In its early stages, gum disease is relatively easy to treat. As it becomes more serious, however, treatment can range from deep cleaning techniques to gum surgery. If you don’t have your gum disease treated, it can eventually lead to tooth loss, which means you’ll need to visit a prosthodontist in order to prevent long-term problems with your tooth alignment.
Bleeding when you brush your teeth is a common symptom of gingivitis, which is one of the earliest forms of gum disease. A minor inflammation of the gums, gingivitis can usually be easily treated with a baking soda toothpaste, a prescription toothpaste provided by your dentist, special mouthwash, or antibiotics. If you notice any issues with your gums while you take care of your teeth, particularly if you see blood while you brush or floss, be sure to mention this to your dentist as soon as possible.
For more oral hygiene teeth tips, contact our office at Dakota Prosthodontics & Implant Center.
