For many patients, the development of gum disease isn’t always obvious at first. That’s because the earliest symptoms of the condition aren’t always noticeable upon first glance, and some of them may not seem immediately related to gum disease at all. Today, we examine a few of the sometimes-surprising things related to gum disease, and how patients in Encinitas/San Diego can spot them to know when it’s time to seek help from a periodontal specialist.

Tooth sensitivity and aching

Because gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) develops in your gums, you may not immediately associate a toothache or tooth sensitivity with it. However, when your gums become diseased, the tissue separates from your teeth, or recedes, which exposes their sensitive roots. The more exposed your teeth roots are, the more sensitive your teeth will become as food particles and oral bacteria irritate them.

Chronic bad breath

Bad breath can mean many things, but unless you already know that you have gum disease, you might not consider it a plausible cause for your bad breath. The truth, though, is that the excessive oral bacteria accumulation that causes gum disease can also cause your breath to smell increasingly worse. As the disease progresses, the erosion of your gums and periodontal ligaments can also contribute to worsening breath.

Increasingly looser teeth

When your gums recede, your teeth can ache because your roots aren’t protected by enamel (like the crowns of your teeth). Your teeth can also become loose as the tissues lose their firm grip, and in severe cases, the jawbone structure surrounding your teeth beings to erode, as well. You may notice one or more teeth growing loose and moving around in the area where the tissue and jawbone erosion is most prominent.

Find out if you have gum disease

Not all symptoms of gum disease are easily recognizable, though you have a better chance of noticing them if you know what you’re looking for. For more information, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.