Warning signs you have ‘irreversible’ disease in your mouth

Like the saying goes, 'prevention is cheaper than the cure', and that really goes double once you go beyond the point of being able to be cured.

Then you'll be paying forever.

It may be a scary thought, but for many of you you'll never be as healthy as you are now, and the sort of problems which may manifest along the way can take you by surprise.

You might think you're leading a decently healthy life, until all of a sudden there's a new problem and you yearn for those days before you felt the pain.

This is why picking up on potential early warning signs is so crucial, as sometimes things get irreversible before you do anything about it.

One place where you need to be particularly careful is your mouth, and a dentist has been warning that people regularly neglect this part of the body.

Do be careful not to mess up your mouth, it's the only one you've got. (Getty Stock Photo)

Dr. Chanpreet Kalsi of the Hermes London Dental Clinic said there were warning signs that would be best not ignored, lest you end up with irreversible gum disease.

The first stage of gum disease, known as gingivitis, can be reversed but once it goes beyond that the infection can never be completely removed and you'll be suffering from it forever.

The doc warned that basically half of all adults have non-reversible gum disease, and only 17 percent have perfectly healthy gums.

He recommended that you stick to a strict brushing regime, and made sure you got into the gaps between your teeth, and the ones between your teeth and gums.

According to the NHS, symptoms of gum disease include:

• Bleeding gums when you brush your teeth, floss or eat hard foods.
• Your gums becoming swollen, red and sore.
• Bad breath and a bad taste in the mouth.
• Your gums shrinking.
• Your teeth becoming loose or falling out.

You don't want your gums to become infected and your teeth to fall out, do you? (Getty Stock Photo)

If you're experiencing these symptoms then you should go and see your dentist, while there are times when you need to book an urgent appointment.

Very sore and swollen gums are a major warning sign, while your teeth getting loose or falling out is a clear sign that you need to get to a dentist ASAP.

Spotting ulcers or red patches in your mouth, or finding a lump in your mouth or on your lip are also causes for concern and make seeking treatment a priority.

Your first port of call should be your dentist, but since they are a very precious commodity you might not have one.

In that case, you should call 111 and tell them what's happened, they might be able to help you.

You can also use the NHS's system to find a dentist and see if any of them can fit you in for an emergency appointment.