What Are Gum Disease Symptoms?

If any of the following symptoms are present, this may be an indication that you have gum disease.

• Bleeding gums after brushing or flossing
• Receded gums
• Swollen, red or tender gums
• Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
• Chronic halitosis
• Pain or discomfort while chewing
• Change in feel of your bite
• Change in fit of partial dentures (if applicable)
• Loosened teeth

It is important to schedule an appointment with your dentist or periodontist if you notice any of these symptoms. If you do have gum disease, the sooner it is treated, the less likely you are to experience negative outcomes, such as the loss of a tooth or teeth.

Related Health Issues in Men

In addition to the impact gum disease can have on everyone’s oral health, research indicates that gum disease may also play a role in several other health conditions unique to men, including the following:

• Impotence: Impotence can develop due to prolonged inflammation that causes damage to blood vessels. Given the inflammatory nature of gum disease, there is a possible link between these two issues.
• Heart Disease: As both heart disease and gum disease are inflammatory conditions, research suggests that a man’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease increases when gum disease is present.
• Prostate Health: Men who have gum disease or display symptoms associated with gum disease, such as swollen or red gums or gums that bleed easily are statistically more likely to have higher than average levels of Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which suggests a correlation between prostate and periodontal health.
• Cancer: There is a 15% increase in likelihood of developing gum disease among men who have or have had cancer compared to those who have not.

Gum Disease Risk Factors in Women

The risk of gum disease among women can increase due to the following:

• Menstruation: It is not uncommon for women who are menstruating to experience situational gingivitis, most often occurring right before the period starts and ending shortly after it begins.
• Puberty: Due to the increase in progesterone and estrogen that takes places when a woman begins going through period, which in turn creates increased circulation of blood around the gums, oftentimes the gums become sensitive and more susceptible to irritation, tenderness, and swelling, all of which can cause gum disease to develop.
• Menopause and Post-Menopause: Women going through menopause and post-menopause often experience discomfort of the mouth, either in the form of pain or a burning sensation in the gums, as well as dry mouth. Estrogen supplements can be effective in addressing these issues and reducing the risk of gum disease.
• Pregnancy/Premature birth: Pregnant women with periodontal disease are at a slightly elevated risk of delivering their child prematurely compared to those who do not.

Although there are certain risk factors that increase an individuals’ risk of developing gum disease, the only way to determine if you have gum disease for certain is to schedule an appointment with your dentist or periodontist.

More on Gum Disease : Signs of Gum Disease