Many people aren’t aware that they have gum disease. If you notice a bit of blood when you brush your teeth, it is the first warning sign that you’ve got gum disease. You can find and treat the problem before it gets serious if you know what to look for. Red, swollen gums is one of the first signs that indicate that your gums need attention. Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or eating hard food is an indicator that needs immediate consultation with your dentist. In progressive stages of the disease, gums appear to be away from the teeth, causing the teeth to look longer than before. Pus between your gums and teeth with persistent bad breath is a typical presentation in advanced gum disease. If these problems are not addressed it can result in your tooth becoming loose eventually causing severe infection demanding extraction of the tooth.
In people who have already replaced part of natural dentition with artificial ones, a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite or a change in the fit of dentures with occasional food impaction puts you at a risk of an already established progressive gum disease. This serious infection can lead to loss of remaining teeth.