Nearly half of the American population has some form of gum disease. From the beginning stages of gingivitis to the more advanced periodontal disease, gum disease damages your teeth as well as your gums. A gum infection could point to the fact that you have gum disease. What are the signs of a gum infection and what could they mean for you?
Sore Gums
If your gums are tender either to the touch or while you’re brushing, you could be experiencing a symptom of gum infection. If your gums aren’t sore regularly, it might not be anything to worry about. However, if your gums are consistently sore or seem to be getting worse, visit your dentist!
Red or Swollen Gums
This symptom usually goes hand-in- hand with sore gums. If your gums look more red than pink, this could be indicative of a problem. In addition, if your gums look puffy or look as though they’re sticking too far out from your teeth, they’re likely swollen and will need to be evaluated by your oral healthcare professional.
Bleeding Gums
Seeing blood when brushing is a common symptom of either a gum infection or gum disease. Some people think bleeding when brushing is normal—it’s not! Unless you are brushing too aggressively, blood when brushing could be a sign of an infection.
A Bad Taste in Your Mouth
If you have a foul taste in your mouth from time to time, you could have an infection which is causing this. Another sign of a gum infection is bad breath. The bad smell could be coming from the gum infection or gum disease or both. Regardless, persistent bad breath or a terrible taste in your mouth could mean a problem. Your wisdom teeth could also be a source of infection. If you never got your wisdom teeth removed and they haven’t fully erupted, your gum tissue is more prone to infection and may cause this unpleasant taste.
Receding Gums
When there’s an infection in the areas between your gums and your teeth, this could cause your gums to begin to pull back from your teeth. This is also known as gum recession and can actually lead to loose teeth. The infection needs to be treated or it’ll get worse!
Visible Pus
If you visibly see pus in your mouth or have pockets of pus—whether it’s from gum disease or an abscess on your gums, you need to get to a dentist as soon as possible. Letting an infection in your mouth go could lead the infection to get into your bloodstream and could cause serious health problems and even death.
If you have a gum infection, this is not a condition you want to wait to seek help for. It can ruin your smile and even cause you some serious health problems. Seeking treatment sooner rather than later is always ideal. If you suspect you might have an infection in your gums, see your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist can properly treat the infection and save your smile!
