Gum disease can be mild - gingivitis, or severe - periodontitis.

The Signs of Gum Disease

• Bleeding Gums
• Reddened Gums
• Swollen Gums
• Gum Recession and Spaces appearing between the Teeth
• Bad Breath
• Loose Teeth

Gum disease can take many years to develop and as a result it is a problem many people simply are not aware of. While we can explain some of the signs which tell you if you have gum disease, you can still have gum disease even if you aren't aware of any of its signs.

Gum Disease - Red and Swollen

Healthy Gums - Pink and Firm

Bleeding Gums

If your gums are bleeding when you brush them this is a sign that you have some level of gum disease.

Red Gums

The normal gum color is usually described as "coral pink". If you see that your gums are very red in color, you should be suspicious.

Swollen Gums

If your gums appears swollen and 'lumpy', especially in the presence of bleeding then you very likely have gum disease.

Gum Recession and Spaces between Teeth not there before

If you notice that you have recession, the cause may not be due to thin tissue, but rather from periodontitis. If you notice that you have a space between two or more teeth that was not there before, that is usually a sign that gum disease is present.

Bad Breath

Bad breath can be a sign of gum disease. However, it can also be present if there is no gum disease. Bad breath can be caused by certain foods, the lack of proper cleaning of the teeth even with no gum disease, the build-up of bacteria on the tongue or even from stomach problems.

Loose Teeth

If you are aware of looseness of some teeth, this is a very clear sign of advanced gum disease.

The Risk Factors for Gum Disease

Aside from the bacteria that cause gum disease, there are other considerations which can modify the course or aggressiveness of the disease. These are called "risk factors" and are:

• Smoking has been shown to increase the chances of getting gum disease and also of having more aggressive types of gum disease.
• Patients who have diabetes or who have diabetes in their family can be predisposed to having gum disease or to having a more aggressive type of gum disease. If a patient has poorly-controlled diabetes, this may be associated with a more involved type of gum disease.
• Genetically-Reduced Resistance to Gum Disease. There are genetic considerations which predispose patients toward a more aggressive, severe type of periodontitis. Patients who have a family history of tooth loss or parents wearing dentures, should be more concerned about a genetic resistance consideration.
• The Type of Bacteria that is present in a patient's mouth. It is not known why some patients naturally have bacteria present in their mouths which are not associated with aggressive periodontitis while other patients have the more aggressive type of bacteria.