The Three Main Phases of Gum Disease
When it comes to oral care, most people will do it for the sake of keeping away foul odours from their mouth and having their teeth appear pristine. However, oral care also functions to ensure that your teeth are protected from diseases and infections. One of the more common diseases that you could develop due to improper oral care is gum disease. This disease develops in three main phases. It is prudent to carry out the right oral care so as to prevent it from starting in the first place. Nevertheless, it is also prudent to know the symptoms of gum disease so you can have an emergency dentist remedy it before it gets out of hand. Here are the three main phases of gum disease.
First phase: Gingivitis
Although suffering from gingivitis is a scary notion, it is actually one of the easier phases to cure. If you notice you are developing symptoms of gingivitis, a visit to your dentist can ensure that the process is reversed before it spreads any further. Some of the symptoms to look out for that would indicate onset of gingivitis include:
- Swollen gums
- Inflammation in the gums
- Mild halitosis
- A gum line that is gradually receding
Second Phase: Periodontitis
If the symptoms of gingivitis are ignored, the disease develops into periodontitis. In this phase of the development of gum disease, you begin to suffer damage to the soft tissues in your gum. You may also begin to notice that your jaw is losing some of its bone mass. Some of the symptoms to look out for that would indicate periodontitis include:
- Gums that are bright red in colour
- Swelling in the gums
- Tenderness in your gums making them painful to the touch
- An accumulation of pus in the spaces between your teeth and your gums
- A chronic bad taste in your mouth
- Pungent halitosis
Third Phase: Advanced Periodontitis
This is the last stage of gum disease. If you have reached this phase, the gum disease has advanced quite far and you could suffer irreparable damage to your teeth and gums. One of the most significant symptoms of advanced periodontist is the actual loss of teeth. This is because the jawbone has lost a significant amount of its mass, which inadvertently causes the shifting and falling out of teeth due to lack of sufficient support. In this phase of gum disease, the dentist may opt for tooth extraction so as to eliminate as much of the bacteria as possible. You would also have to consider tooth replacement treatments once the gum disease has been remedied.