Ailments and Situations - Periodontal Disease - Symptoms and Signs

 

Symptoms and Signs:

The early stages of the disease are unobtrusive; you are not likely to "discover" any problems until symptoms are advanced and chronic. The early warning signs however, include tender gums and possibly an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Bad breath, which can result from factors, is often an indicator of gum disease. Bacterial wastes in the mouth, which become more numerous as the disease progresses, contain sulfur -- a substance that creates the foul odour. Professional inspection can reveal the amounts of bone and gum around each tooth and record the kinds of bacteria present in the mouth. It is an important gauge of the extent of the disease and goes beyond a simple look in the mirror.

As the disease progresses into more advanced stages, symptoms include redness, bleeding, and/or recession of the gingivae (gum line), up to the point where teeth loosen and actually fall out.

 

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