While most people focus on their teeth when they think about dental health, the reality is that your gums play just as large of a role in the well-being of your teeth. Not only do they protect your teeth, they are responsible for protecting the bones that hold your teeth in place.

Unfortunately, damage to your gums can occur easily through the formation of gum disease. The early stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. Gingivitis starts to occur as plaque builds up along your gum line and eventually hardens into tartar. This hardened tartar can invade the pockets of gums along your teeth, leading to an infection of the gums. As the plaque and tartar build further and your gums become increasingly infected, you can wind up with a full-blown case of gum disease.

Gum disease will lead to the deterioration of your teeth and eventually can even cause bone loss. If left unchecked, gum disease will erode your bones to the point of tooth loss. Because of the aggressive nature of gum disease, it is important to have a professional assess the severity of the disease to determine what treatment is proper.

The early stages of gum disease can easily go unnoticed because there are not very many symptoms to watch out for. Common signs of gingivitis that you might experience include bleeding gums, sore gums, or swollen gums. When in doubt, it is best to have a professional take a look at your gum health.