Did you know that gum disease is one of the most common dental problems among adults? A whopping 90% of Canadians will develop it at some point in their lives! Over the next couple blog posts, we at Kits Family Dental are going to talk about how to recognize, prevent and deal with gum disease so you’ll know how to take care of both your own and your children’s teeth!
Causes
Healthy gum tissue and bone keep your teeth firmly in place, and your teeth are actually attached to your gums at a point just below the gumline – this is what gum disease affects! It starts with plaque, and if you don’t brush and floss regularly to remove it, it hardens into tartar, also known as calculus (not the kind you have to study in class!). The tartar causes your gums to bleed, but it isn’t necessarily painful. This early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis.
The bone that keeps your teeth in place is affected as well – gum disease will eventually cause enough of the bone and attachment to be lost that your tooth will become loose and could fall out!
Signs
Chronic gum disease rarely hurts, so here’s what you should look for:
- gums that bleed every time you brush or floss
- a colour change in your gums
- chronic bad breath
- a metallic taste
- gums that are red, shiny, red, puffy, or sore
The good news is that gum disease can almost always be prevented! It’s perfectly treatable and, in the early stages, can actually be reversed! On the other hand, gum disease is also progressive, meaning that the worse it gets, the faster it worsens. Come visit Dr. Mak or Dr. Iwagami if you notice anything unusual! Come back next week to learn about prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Until next time!
