5 Early Signs of Gum Disease

When you come to Burbank Dental Studio for a dental cleaning and exam every six months, you’re always hoping to learn that you still have a cavity-free smile. But that’s just half of a clean bill of oral health. The other half? Having healthy gum tissues that are free of infection, inflammation, and disease.  

Dr. Annie Aboulian and our expert team know that when it comes to maintaining healthy gums, an ounce of preventive dental care really is worth a pound of cure. With that in mind, here’s how to recognize the early signs of gum disease — so you can reverse it before it has a chance to progress. 

A short tutorial on gum disease

Gum disease — also known as periodontal disease — is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. It develops when a buildup of bacteria-filled plaque on your teeth irritates and inflames your gumline.  

How it develops

Bacteria are a normal part of your oral ecosystem. But when these microbes combine with saliva, food, and fluids, they produce a sticky film called dental plaque, which adheres to tooth enamel. Daily brushing and flossing help remove plaque. 

Lingering plaque is the starting point for many oral health concerns, ranging from tartar formation (calcified plaque), tooth discoloration, and bad breath to dental cavities and early-stage gum disease — also known as gingivitis.   

A common problem

Periodontal diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis (late-stage gum disease), affect more than 2 in 5 adults over the age of 30, and 2 in 3 adults aged 65 and older. 

People who smoke, have diabetes, don’t floss, or skip routine dental cleanings are more likely to develop gum disease. Pregnancy can also increase your gum disease risk. 

Beyond tooth loss

You may know that advanced gum disease is a leading cause of both tooth loss and jawbone loss in older adults. But did you know that chronic oral inflammation is also directly linked to inflammation in your cardiovascular system? 

That’s right — living with untreated advanced gum disease substantially increases your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. 

Telltale symptoms of gingivitis 

The good news is that with early detection and treatment, gingivitis is reversible. What is the key to halting its progression and restoring healthy gums? Knowing what early gum disease looks like so you can act quickly. Warning signs of gingivitis include:

1. Swollen gums

Healthy gums are firm and tight-fitting. Often, the very first sign of gingivitis — a term that literally means “gum tissue inflammation” — is mild, persistent swelling that makes your gums look slightly puffy. 

2. Gum redness

Healthy gums are also light pink. The longer gingivitis-related inflammation lingers, the more likely it is to cause additional symptoms. After an initial period of swelling, you may notice that your gums appear redder than normal. They may also feel unexpectedly tender at times. 

3. Bleeding gums

Gums that frequently bleed when you brush and floss your teeth is a telltale sign of gingivitis. That occurs because lingering plaque irritates and degrades the fibers that keep your teeth attached to your gums, causing the tissues to become more sensitive and prone to bleeding. 

4. Halitosis (bad breath) 

Occasional bad breath is normal, but chronic bad breath is often a sign of poor oral health due to excessive bacteria, tooth decay, or gum disease. Most cases of halitosis are caused by the smelly gasses released by the plaque-trapped bacteria that coat your teeth and gum tissues. 

5. Gum recession

Even mild plaque buildup and inflammation at the gumline can loosen your gum tissues, causing them to recede — or pull away from the base of your teeth. Gum recession creates little “periodontal pockets” that trap food particles, exacerbating the problem and accelerating gum disease advancement.   

Are you ready to restore healthy gums?

Reversing gingivitis doesn’t just restore healthy gums, it also helps you avoid advanced gum disease — an irreversible condition that requires lifelong management.

Often, all it takes to halt gingivitis is a professional dental cleaning. Depending on the extent of the issue, we may be able to get the job done with a standard cleaning. Or you may require a more extensive “deep cleaning” called tooth scaling and root planing. 

Once we’ve removed layers of plaque and tartar, gum inflammation quickly calms. You can keep the problem at bay with consistent, attentive daily oral hygiene habits at home, along with twice-yearly preventive care visits. 

Remember: Healthy, robust gums are the supportive foundation of strong, resilient teeth. At Burbank Dental Studio in Burbank, California, Dr. Annie and our team are here to help you preserve both. Call or request an appointment online today.