What you don’t know can hurt you.
You may have periodontal disease or periodontitis and not know it. So it’s important to recognize symptoms early for the best chance of improving or reversing damage. Here are some of the symptoms that could mean trouble:
- Bad breath that doesn’t go away
- A bad taste in your mouth
- Bright red, purplish, swollen gums
- Gums that bleed when you brush
- Gums that are tender to the touch
- Gum recession—loss of gum so your teeth appear “longer”
- Presence of pus between teeth and gums
- Sensitive teeth
- New spaces between teeth
- Loose teeth
- A change in your bite
If you have one or more of these symptoms, see your dentist or contact us directly as soon as you can. At your first visit, we will:
- Go over your medical history
- Ask about underlying conditions or risk factors for gum disease (like smoking)
- Examine your gums for signs of swelling or inflamed tissue
- Use a special tool to check for pockets and measure their depth (usually painless and fast)
- Take an x-ray to check for bone loss