Your teeth can say a lot about your overall health, but so do your gums. Are they pink and firm? Perfect! It means they are healthy. Do they feel sensitive, inflamed, and you notice that they have a bright red color? You may have a gum disease.
Why
does gum health matter?
Gingivitis is a superficial inflammation of
the gums. It occurs due to bacteria and is the first stage of periodontal
disease. At this stage, it is reversible. If not treated in time, it can grow
to more serious conditions, such as periodontitis. A dentist I know offering innovative all on 4 teeth in a day confirms that poor gum health can lead to tooth loss.
Possible
complications
Chronic inflammation of the gums has also been
associated with respiratory diseases, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or
coronary artery disease. Some studies suggest that the bacteria that cause the
appearance of periodontitis can penetrate the blood through the gum tissue, and
therefore other, more serious health problems may occur as the bacteria spreads
through the body.
Acute necrotizing gingivitis is a severe form
of gingivitis, which causes pain, infection, bleeding, and even mouth ulcers.
However, these cases are not frequent and occur only in exceptional situations.
What are the symptoms of gum disease?
The major symptom is gingival bleeding. Other
signs that indicate the appearance of gum disease include swollen gums, gums
with a dark red tint, bad breath, gingival retraction and sensitive gums.
