Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease)

Gum disease is a condition that affects the tissues that support and anchor the teeth. While many believe that gum disease only impacts adults, this preventable condition can exist at any age, most commonly seen in children as gingivitis. A milder form of gum disease, gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums and warning signs may include puffy gums, or a change in color of your gums.

Periodontitis, a second type of gum disease, is more extreme and can lead to tooth loss in adults. Symptoms of periodontal disease often are subtle, and include these warning signs:

• gums that bleed during and after tooth brushing
• red, swollen or tender gums
• persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth
• receding gums
• formation of deep spaces between teeth and gums
• loose or shifting teeth
• changes in the way teeth fit together on biting, or in the fit of partial dentures.

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