Gum disease—otherwise known as periodontitis—is extremely common. According to studies, half of all adults in America have some type of periodontitis. In the early stages, periodontitis is completely and easily fixed. If left untreated, however, it can be very damaging to your health. 

Untreated gum disease that advances into later-stage periodontitis can lead to severe consequences, including bone loss, soft tissue damage, loss of teeth, infections, swelling, systemic inflammation, chronic pain, and more. These can be painful and costly and can even cause your cheeks to collapse, changing the entire shape of your face! Periodontitis isn’t only damaging to your oral health, either. It can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and dementia.

Early signs of gum disease include noticing blood while you floss or brush your teeth. Other signs include teeth becoming loose, bleeding or swollen gums, changes in your bite during chewing, and receding gums. If you’ve experienced any of those signs, it’s likely that you are experiencing some type of periodontitis. 

At Jamaica Cosmetic Dental Services, we believe every patient deserves to have optimal dental health. That’s why we work hard to help patients make informed decisions about their care. This is especially important with periodontitis, which is easily treated when addressed early—many times at no cost to the patient. That’s why we offer a free, no-pressure Perio Protect consultation to all of our patients to help you catch gum disease and start treatment right away.