What Are Gum Disease Symptoms?

It is important to schedule regular dental examinations at least every six months, during which your dentist or periodontist can perform a deep cleaning and evaluate your overall oral health, looking for any issues that may need to be address, such as marin county gum disease. To determine if gum disease is present, your dentist will measure the depth of the pockets of your gums. Healthy pockets should be approximately 3mm in depth or less. If pocket depth is 4mm or greater, this is an indication that you have gum disease.

Gum disease often develops gradually and is painless in the early stages, which is why it is important to be aware of common symptoms so you can address the issue before it worsens. If you notice any of the following common symptoms of gum disease, schedule an appointment for an observation as soon as possible:

• Swollen, red or tender gums
• Receded gums
• Gums that bleed easily
• Loose teeth
• Change in your occlusion or fit of partial dentures
• Extreme sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures
• Dull or sharp pain when chewing
• Visible pus around the gums and teeth
• Chronic halitosis and/or bad taste in mouth

Common Gum Disease Symptoms in Women

Although everyone is at risk of developing gum disease regardless of their age or gender, there are certain factors that can impact a woman’s potential for developing gum disease, which include the following:

• Puberty: During puberty, hormones such as progesterone and estrogen increase, which causes an increase in circulation of blood around the gums. As a result, gums can increase in sensitivity, which can cause them to become tender, swollen, or irritated which can result in gum disease.
• Menstruation: Situational gingivitis commonly occurs during a woman’s menstruation period, typically before the period starts and resolving shortly after it begins.
• Pregnancy: Research indicates that women who have periodontal disease and are pregnant have an increased likelihood of giving birth prematurely.
• Menopause and Post-Menopause: Mouth discomfort, such as dry mouth, burning, and/or pain in the gums may develop in women going through menopause. These symptoms can usually be alleviated by taking estrogen supplements.

Common Gum Disease Symptoms in Men

As is the case with women, men can be uniquely affected by gum disease in the following ways:

• Prostate Health: Men who have or exhibit common symptoms of periodontal disease (tender, red, or swollen gums) often have levels of Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that are higher than average, which indicates a possible correlation between periodontal and prostate health.
• Impotence: Because prolonged inflammation damages blood vessels, which can result in impotence, it is believed that men with periodontal disease are at an increased risk of developing impotence.
• Heart Disease: Because gum disease and heart disease are both inflammatory conditions, it is believed that a man’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease increases when they develop gum disease.
• Cancer: Men who have been diagnosed with gum disease are 15% more likely to develop cancer.

More on Gum Disease : Signs of Gum Disease