A periodontist is a dental specialist that focuses on gum disease. Not only can they diagnose and treat gum disease, but they also are trained to prevent it as well as perform various cosmetic periodontal procedures. Some of the more common periodontal procedures include dental implants and gum grafts.
Needless to say if you feel you have gum disease, it would be a good idea to see a periodontist. But do you know what signs you should look out for that could be an indication of that?
In many cases the early signs of gum disease are often overlooked or brushed off, which could make your condition worse by the time you see a periodontist. Knowing the signs that you need to look out for can help you to avoid that:
- Inflamed or bleeding gums
If your gums are red and swollen and feel a bit sensitive, they may be inflamed. That is an early sign of gingivitis, and the same applies if your gums are bleeding – especially when you brush your teeth.
Typically noticing these signs is the best way to catch gum disease early, before it gets the chance to damage your gums, teeth and jawbone permanently.
- Persistently bad breath
Bad breath is caused by bacteria that lurks in your mouth which in turn means that your oral health is not good. While it isn’t exclusively a sign of gum disease, if you have persistent bad breath that is present even though you brush regularly – odds are you may have a problem.
- Bite feels different
Does your bite pattern feel a little different, especially when you’re chewing? That is normally a sign that something has affected your gums or the jawbone, and it is a very clear sign of gum disease.
- Gums are receding from teeth
As you start to get older your gums will recede naturally, but it normally isn’t that noticeable. If you start to notice a difference and your teeth look longer, that makes it likely that you have gum disease.
If left untreated, your gums could eventually recede further and eventually the roots of your teeth will start to get exposed. Once that happens it will leave your teeth open to infection, and could cause tooth loss.
- Loose teeth that can shift
As mentioned previously, gum disease can cause your gums to recede – and on top of that it can also affect your bones. Because of that some of your teeth may start to feel loose and their placement may shift.
Although it may be tempting to brush it off or think that you just imagined it, you should not ignore it if you feel your teeth are a little loose. All said and done it is really better to be safe rather than sorry, and if gum disease has affected your bones it is essential you have it treated as soon as possible.
- Teeth feel sensitive especially to heat or cold
If you suddenly notice that your teeth are feeling extra-sensitive when you eat hot or cold foot, it may be because gum disease has exposed more of the roots. It is likely to be accompanied by receding gums as well as loose teeth, and it also means that your teeth are vulnerable to infection.
Being aware of the signs, it should now be fairly easy for you to identify them. As soon as you do it would be a good idea to book an appointment with a periodontist London, or at very least consult your regular dentist about it and maybe get a referral.
Above all else it is important that you act as early as you can. If you delay and your gum disease worsens you could end up facing a lot of issues in the long term that are very difficult to deal with. In some cases gum disease can also be life-threatening.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.