When Laurie came in to our Glendale dentist office she had noticed that she was suffering from odorous breath. Although Laurie was cleaning and flossing her teeth diligently, she found that by the middle of the day her breath was no longer fresh. Our Glendale dentist office evaluated Laurie’s smile during her regular dental appointment. We ultimately found that she was exhibiting symptoms of gum disease—and it was her gum disease that was contributing to chronic bad breath.
Many of the signs that our dental team noticed are hard for patients to spot themselves. Here are some things that we take into account when evaluating a patient for gum disease.
Does the patient’s gum tissue appear pink and healthy? Diseased gum tissue can appear dark and will often bleed when touched by a toothbrush, floss, or rough food.
Is the patient suffering from receding gums? Periodontal disease causes gum tissue to pull away from the teeth and jawbone. When gum tissue begins to recede, it exposes potentially sensitive dental tissue. Over time, however, gum disease breaks down the connective tissues that hold your teeth and gums in place. At this point you may be able to visibly see periodontal pockets, or small spaces between gum tissue and your teeth.
Laurie was experiencing receding gums, and her tissue was very sensitive and prone to bleeding. She did not yet have severe periodontal pockets, so we were able to prevent more dental damage with prompt professional dental treatment.
The best way to avoid serious complications due to periodontal disease is to maintain a schedule of regular dental cleanings. Not only do these cleanings themselves help keep your gum tissue healthy, but they also allow your dentist to monitor any changes to your gum tissue, teeth, and bone density. If you’d like more information you can always call our Glendale dentist office!