Although it has three stages, gum disease is one continuous process.  Each stage is characterized by what you see and feel in your mouth, and by what's happening under your gumline.  Remember, even if you do not notice any symptoms, you may still have a form of periodontal disease, and it is possible to have more than one stage of gum disease around different teeth at one time.  Dr. Loewen will determine its progression in your mouth during each visit.

State 1 Gingivitis
You may experience some swelling, bleeding, tenderness, or bad breath.  At this point, gums may be loose, but are still attached high on the teeth.

Stage 2 Periodontitis
You may experience bright red or receding gums, spaces between your teeth, calculus along the gumline, and some symptoms that occur in stage 1.

Stage 3 Advanced Periodontitis
You may experience receding bums which expose root, darker calculus, pus if you press on your gums, and some symptoms from stages 1 and 2.