Gum disease rarely announces itself with pain. It tends to move in quietly, showing up as small changes that are easy to explain away: a little blood in the sink, a taste that lingers longer than it should, gums that look slightly puffier than usual. Because none of these things hurt at first, they get ignored, sometimes for years, while the condition underneath keeps advancing. Knowing what to look for early is the difference between a problem that reverses with better care and one that ends up costing you teeth.…