When your mouth first starts to succumb to gum disease, it is often completely painless. You typically do not notice any type of pain until your gum disease has already advanced to the next stage. At first, you may notice that your gums are slightly puffy, or that you bleed a little when you brush and floss.

Beyond that, your mouth feels perfectly fine. However, your dentist is likely to notice early signs of gum disease, making it even more imperative that you see your dentist on time each year.

What is Going On in Early Gum Disease?

During the early phase of gum disease, typically called gingivitis, the plaque on your teeth has hardened and worked its way under the gum line. This then causes some type of an infection between the gums and the tooth, which is where the bleeding comes from.

The infection is small at first, which is where there is typically no pain. When left untreated, gingivitis progresses into the later stages of gum disease, and the pain will come into play.

When you are facing gingivitis, it is treatable, and often is reversible. Your dentist will remove the plaque buildup, called calculus, by scaling and root planing your teeth, and they will help you learn to better care for your gums. This will stop the infection and the bleeding, and prevent the pain.

Your dentist will probably want to see you every three months for a little while, instead of every six, to ensure that your teeth and gums are responding appropriately to treatment.

Just remember, you should never see blood coming from your gums if they are totally healthy and unharmed. If you notice blood, with or without pain, contact our office today!