If you don’t have gum disease – or, at least, don’t know yet that you do – then the condition might not seem too worrisome right now. However, allowing gum disease to develop and progress can leave your smile open to several different dangers. It can also have an increasingly stronger influence on your systemic well-being if not treated and managed properly. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we can help you worry less about periodontal disease and its potential consequences by customizing an appropriate periodontal treatment and management plan.

1. Increasingly worse symptoms

Periodontal disease is different for everyone, and depending on its severity, symptoms can range from mild to intense. They can include red, swollen, and bleeding gums, as well as gum recession (where the tissues pull away from your teeth) and larger periodontal pockets. As these symptoms grow worse, they can also grow more uncomfortable, and you might also begin to notice your teeth growing loose as the supportive tissues around your teeth continue to erode. While early gum disease may be challenging to detect on your own, the warning signs of more severe periodontitis are much harder to ignore.

2. Your risks of losing teeth

Tooth loss is one of the most impactful circumstances for your oral health. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss, as it can erode your jawbone structure as well as your periodontal tissues when it becomes severe. Fortunately, you can reduce those risks if you seek specialized periodontal treatment early. However, they grow more significant the longer you ignore the disease. If you do lose one or more teeth to gum disease, then your risks of losing more will increase exponentially until you get the disease under control and replace the teeth you’ve lost.

3. It’s impact on your overall health

Beyond tooth loss, periodontal disease is also a common and serious risk factor in several other chronic systemic health issues, particularly those that involve excessive inflammation. For instance, studies have shown that patients who present with severe periodontitis also have higher risks of developing cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, dementia, and more. Even if your gum disease is already severe, treating it as soon as possible can help lower the risks it poses to your overall health and wellbeing.

Stop worrying by treating periodontal disease

There are many reasons to worry if you exhibit severe periodontal (gum) disease, but with specialized treatment, you make those worries much less of a threat. For more information, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.