What is Gum Disease?
A common oral health concern among patients is gum (periodontal) disease, which affects the tissues that support and protect your teeth. Even with diligent at-home brushing and flossing, gum disease can still develop due to factors like plaque buildup, genetics, or underlying health conditions.
Your gums play a vital role in sealing and protecting the sensitive roots of your teeth. When healthy, they provide essential support and stability, helping maintain overall oral health. However, when plaque and bacteria accumulate along the gumline, they can cause inflammation and infection in these supportive tissues—leading to the early stages of gum disease.
Causes & Risk Factors of Periodontal Disease
Gum disease can develop for many reasons – from plaque buildup and poor oral hygiene to smoking, stress, or certain health conditions like diabetes. Understanding these risk factors helps you take proactive steps to protect your gums and maintain a healthy smile.
Stages of Gum Disease
Gum disease is a progressive condition, meaning that if left untreated, it can advance to more severe stages, leading to serious consequences for both oral and overall health. The stages of gum disease include:
- Gingivitis
Bacteria that haven't been removed from gums and teeth can grow out of control and produce toxins that irritate the gums.
When calculus, also known as plaque, develops along the gum line, it creates a rough surface where plaque accumulates. This leads to irritation and swelling, resulting in bad breath or sore, bleeding gums.
Spaces between gum and teeth pockets can develop, but no bone damage occurs in this mild, reversible stage of periodontal disease.
Regular hygiene cleanings and exams are critical for maintaining the health of your gums. They also give your dentist the chance to check for developing gum disease.
- Periodontitis
Plaque, sometimes referred to as calculus, is the most common cause of periodontitis and is located beneath the gum line. This condition can result in the breakdown of ligaments, causing the gums to detach and pull away from the teeth.
As the pockets deepen, they fill with more bacteria, and the bone's supportive ligaments start to become damaged, resulting in loose teeth.
- Advanced Periodontitis
The advanced stage of periodontitis results in deep pockets that can occasionally become filled with pus. Swelling may occur around the root, along with increased bone loss, contributing to loose teeth.
Tooth extraction may be a necessary remedy to preserve your general oral health.
Understanding Gum Disease
Gum disease is a serious condition that affects the tissues supporting your teeth. Early detection and proper care are essential to protect your smile and prevent long-term damage.
- Symptoms of Gum Disease
At times, you may not notice any symptoms of gum disease. However, some patients might experience symptoms that include:
- Receding gums
- Bleeding in your gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Red or purple gums
- Sore or swollen gums
- Diagnosis
To diagnose gum disease, your dentist will measure the depth of the pockets around each tooth. Pockets deeper than 3 mm are considered hazardous and will usually need treatment.
Regular dental exams allow your dentist to detect gum disease early and take preventive measures.
- Treatment
To treat gum disease, we remove bacteria and debris that accumulate in pockets around your teeth. These bacteria live at a microscopic level. The process can be pretty meticulous.
The process of eliminating bacteria usually requires multiple visits to our office. Once bacteria have been removed, your dentist must clean and maintain these pockets regularly. Otherwise, bacteria can begin to damage the bone.
- Long-Term Care
Generally, if you have experienced gum or periodontal disease, you will always need to pay extra attention to your oral health.
Along with maintaining diligent hygiene at home, it's essential to visit us for regular cleanings to prevent the bone in your mouth and jaw from receding.
After the initial issue is treated, we will recommend that you attend periodontal maintenance appointments every three to four months.