Have your gums ever bled when brushing them? Bleeding gums is one of the first telltale signs of periodontal disease when brushing or flossing. Many people experience bleeding gums when practicing oral hygiene but simply assume it is from brushing too hard or not flossing enough. However, bleeding of the gums is not normal and should be considered a warning sign of gum disease. In order to actually bleed just from brushing your teeth and damage healthy tissue, you’d have to be brushing extremely hard. If your gums regularly bleed when brushing your teeth, we recommend calling us for an exam. Curious about what other warning signs might be? We’ve listed them for you below:

The Warning Signs:

–Bleeding gums during/after tooth brushing or flossing

–Red, swollen, or tender gums: Changes in the appearance of gum tissue or sensitive gums are also common symptoms. Some may also have receding gums when the tissues are very thin.

–Persistent bad breath: Besides bleeding gums, bad breath is one of the most common signs. Bad flossing habits can lead to plaque collecting in the area between teeth making them especially prone to gum inflammation. Another symptom similar to this is a bad taste in the mouth that won’t go away.

–Loose or shifting teeth: For some that have periodontal disease and are unaware, they may experience movement or migration of their teeth. The rate of movement will depend on the particular type of gum disease you have. This can make major changes to the way your teeth fit together and your smile overall.

Gum disease can progress painlessly, producing few of these obvious signs, even in the later stages of the disease.

Depending on the type of gum disease, some of the available treatment options include:

-Removal of plaque and calculus through scaling

-Medication

-Surgery in order to stop or minimize the progression

If you are concerned that you may have gum disease, contact us to schedule a consultation and learn more about the disease.