Unhealthy Gums. If you have healthy gums, they will look firm and pink. Some signs of unhealthy gums include redness and swelling, gums that bleed when you brush or floss your teeth, and gums that appear to be pulling away from the teeth.
In a healthy mouth, the tissues are pink, firm and moist. If you have a healthy mouth, your breath will smell pleasant or neutral. Healthy gums are firm and pink, not red or white. They are not swollen or sore.
Some of the most common diseases that impact our oral health include cavities (tooth decay), gum (periodontal) disease, and oral cancer. More than 40% of adults report having felt pain in their mouth within the last year, and more than 80% of people will have had at least one cavity by age 34.
In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or even fall out. Periodontal disease is mostly seen in adults. Periodontal disease and tooth decay are the two biggest threats to dental health.
Oral lichen planus (LIE-kun PLAY-nus) is an ongoing (chronic) inflammatory condition that affects mucous membranes inside your mouth. Oral lichen planus may appear as white, lacy patches; red, swollen tissues; or open sores. These lesions may cause burning, pain or other discomfort.
Your mouth can tell you a lot about the health of your body. The mouth shows signs of tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health problems. It can also show signs of other disease, if you're missing certain foods from your diet and unhealthy habits such as using tobacco and tobacco-like products, and alcohol.
Your mouth tells a story, too. Like the back of your throat—it looks one way when you're healthy, another way if you have a bacterial infection such as strep throat, and yet another when there's a viral infection like hand, foot and mouth disease. Your tongue gives clues as to how well hydrated you are.
Swelling. Any swelling in the gums is a red flag for infection. If it is a small pimple-like swelling on the gums, you likely have an abscess from a tooth. Swelling around multiple teeth where the gums meet the teeth is a sign of inflammatory gum disease.
Aside from pointing out the evident cavity or stained teeth, dentists can tell if you are sick, highly stressed, and even pregnant! The list is extensive because “good dental health is a reflection of good health overall.” Here are a handful of things that can be discovered or learned from your visits to the dentist.
Your dentist will likely perform an X-ray to determine the extent of the infection. If there's any suspicion that the infection has spread to other parts of the body, your dentist may also perform a CT scan.
Signs That Your Gums Require Attention
Gums that aren't healthy can bleed or be red, puffy, or painful, especially when eating hot or cold foods or brushing or flossing your teeth. Diseased gums can also recede, or pull away from your teeth, which can increase your chances of experiencing tooth decay.
Your teeth should feel secure in their sockets and should not be wobbly or loose. There should be no flaps, pockets, or areas where the gums appear to be receding from the tooth. Daily flossing keeps gums healthy and eliminates pockets and other areas where germs can gather and lead to damage, rotting, and bad breath.
Arthritis can affect the joint in your jaw (temporomandibular joint or TMJ) that opens and closes the mouth. Inflammation can form along the tendons, this can cause damage affecting the joint and making it painful or difficult to open your mouth.
White or red patches on the tongue, gums, lips, inner cheeks or roof of mouth. Sores or cracks in the corners of the mouth.
Oral Lichen Planus: This oral autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system attacks the mucous membranes inside your mouth, according to The Mayo Clinic. It will appear as lacy white patches, sometimes accompanied by painful sores on the lining of the cheeks, tongue, and gums.
Pain in your teeth, gum or jaw. Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods. Sore or bleeding gums. Swelling of the gums, jaw or lymph bodes.
Oral herpes is a viral infection mainly around the mouth and lips caused by herpes simplex viruses. HSV-1 causes painful sores on the upper and lower lips, gums, tongue, roof of the mouth, inside the cheeks or nose, and sometimes on the face, chin, and neck.
Typical first symptoms include fever, sore throat, and difficulty swallowing. Those symptoms are followed by tiny blisters at the back of the mouth. Those blisters can form large ulcers when they burst.
A persistently high fever, dizziness, lightheadedness, a rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, confusion, and digestive problems are potential signs of sepsis and should be treated as a medical emergency.