Gum Disease Begins Without Symptoms

Ben Franklin once said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Think of early-stage periodontal treatment as a penny saved, along with protecting your overall health.

Like most diseases that form in our bodies, we don’t feel or see anything when they first begin. Because the initial symptoms of periodontal (gum) disease are silent, patients are often surprised when told they have early stages of the disease since there are often no symptoms at this point. Yet, this is the ideal stage to combat the disease, and the least expensive with minimal treatment time involved.

The attitude of ‘if it doesn’t hurt, then nothing’s wrong,’ has been to the detriment of many in the American population. When people wait until the symptoms of periodontal disease become obvious and uncomfortable, they are typically in mid- to late-stage periodontal disease. Symptoms include tender and swollen gums that bleed easily when brushing, persistent bad breath, gums that recede and gum tissue that is red in color rather than a healthy pink.

While gum disease bacteria causes inflammation in the mouth, it can become an even worse problem should it become bloodborne. The bacteria of periodontal disease can enter the bloodstream through tears in diseased gum tissue, which has been shown to cause harmful inflammatory reactions in other parts of the body. Gum disease bacteria has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, preterm babies and arthritis, just to name a few.

Treatment in initial stages often requires only one or two visits. If insurance coverage is not available, payment plans help to make the expenses manageable. Plus, we make your comfort a priority at all visits, so ask about sedation options if this is a concern.

A healthy smile looks good and feels good, too! Untreated gum disease will only worsen without treatment and can result in tooth loss in latter stages. Treatment at the earliest stage will help restore your mouth to a healthy state and prevent further damage from occurring, both in your mouth and in your body.