Nearly half of Americans over the age of 30 have some degree of gum disease and 178 million people in the United States are missing at least one tooth while 40 million are missing all of their teeth. These two statistics are very much connected, as periodontal disease is one of the primary drivers of tooth loss.
To help you avoid this irreversible outcome, Dr. Mohammed Mansour and the team here at Plano Dental Distinction decided to highlight one of the more common signs of gum disease — bleeding gums.
Here’s a look at the different stages of periodontitis and why you shouldn’t ignore bleeding gums.
The four stages of gum disease
Periodontitis is a progressive condition that’s caused when bacteria get under your gum line and start to destroy the soft connective tissues that stabilize and protect your teeth. Left unchecked, these bacteria eventually target hard tissues, such as your teeth and bones.
The good news is that gum disease can be easily reversed in its earlier stages, which is why it’s important to recognize each of the stages.
Gingivitis
During this early stage of gum disease, bacteria-harboring plaque builds up on your teeth, and the bacteria make their way to your gum line, causing inflammation.
Early periodontal disease
As the bacteria get under your gumline, the gums can start to loosen the seal on your teeth and pockets can form, which allow more bacteria to get in.
Moderate periodontal disease
In this stage of gum disease, the infection can lead to further gum recession as well as loose teeth, as the bacteria eat away at your bone.
Advanced periodontal disease
Left unchecked, the connective tissues that hold your teeth are destroyed, and you will likely begin to lose teeth.
Bleeding gums and gum disease
One of the first signs of periodontitis are gums that are prone to bleeding, especially when you brush or floss. As we reviewed, during the early stages of periodontitis, your gums become inflamed, which leaves them more vulnerable to irritation and damage.
If you experience bleeding when you brush your teeth, we urge you to come see us, as we can often reverse your gingivitis with a professional cleaning.
If your gum disease has advanced to the point where pockets have formed, we can turn to a scaling and root planing procedure to clear away the bacteria and reseal your gums to your teeth.
Please note that bleeding gums are one of the first signs of gum disease, but it’s also a symptom that can occur during every stage of periodontitis — after all, it’s your gums that are under attack.
The bottom line is that bleeding gums are a clear sign of a problem and one that you’d do well to have us check out. Through early diagnosis and treatment, we can preserve your teeth by reversing the course of gum disease.
If you notice that your gums are bleeding, please contact our office in Plano, Texas, to set up an appointment right away.