What is Periodontal (Gum) Disease?
Dental technology has rapidly advanced in recent years. However, despite the significant advancements in this field, the occurrence of oral health problems continue to rise.
Everyone is aware of the basics of dental health. However, the lack of information in oral health still remains as one of the leading causes of oral diseases. The number one cause of tooth loss is periodontal disease. Yet, adults normally go on with their lives, not knowing about the said oral disease.
Bleeding gums are a common sign of bad oral hygiene. Instead of going to the dentist to treat bleeding gums, a person will most likely wait for the problem to go away. This is because one might think the cause for bleeding gums is brushing vigorously. However, bleeding gums is a sign of an infection of the bone and tissues that support your teeth.
Bleeding gums are a common sign of bad oral hygiene. Instead of going to the dentist to treat bleeding gums, a person will most likely wait for the problem to go away because one might think the cause for bleeding gums is brushing vigorously. However, bleeding gums is a sign of an infection of the bone and tissues that support your teeth.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is the infection of the surrounding structures around your teeth, which includes your gums. It happens when bacteria accumulate around your teeth and cause an inflammatory response from your body. In time, the disease leads to the destruction of the surrounding bones and loss of teeth.
Early signs of the disease range from treatable gingivitis to severe periodontitis. However, there are a number of risk factors that worsen the symptoms, including cigarette smoking, steroid medications, or cancer therapy drugs.
There is a significant similarity between the signs and symptoms of gingivitis and periodontitis. This often causes people to overlook the disease.
What is the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis?
Gingivitis and periodontitis are two different stages along the spectrum of Periodontal disease. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums, caused by plaque build-up around the teeth. Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease. Periodontitis, on the other hand, is the second stage of the disease. Here, a pocket below the gum line begins to form and inevitably traps food and plaque.
The final stage is called Advanced Periodontitis. The bacteria has accumulated in the plaque, tartar, and the gum tissue. The bone and fibres surrounding your teeth are slowly destroyed, and chewing causes pain.
Once it reaches the advanced stage, the body’s immune system can no longer contain the infection. Also, if left untreated by a dentist or a periodontist, the symptoms could worsen and lead to several complications.
Signs and Symptoms of Periodontal Disease
Advanced periodontitis progresses slowly and is typically more evident in adults. Even as a result of an infection, inflammation is only one of the signs behind advanced periodontitis. The signs and symptoms of periodontal disease include a number of factors that influence the severity of the disease.
- Bleeding gums is a prevalent sign that a person has periodontal disease. Even when brushing or flossing vigorously, gums should never bleed.
- Having loose teeth from periodontally weakened fibers
- Forming gaps between the teeth due to gum recession
- Feeling pain, tenderness, and discomfort from the bacteria which irritates the teeth and its surrounding structures
Treating and Preventing Periodontal Disease: What are your next steps?
Periodontal disease, if left untreated, will cause several complications. The complications include the deterioration of supporting bone structure around the teeth. Fortunately, you can prevent periodontal diseases by having good oral hygiene. Brushing after meals, flossing, and using mouthwash, help remove food debris, plaque, and prevent bacteria from accumulating.
Once you have a form of Periodontal disease, the treatment will depend on the severity of the infection. The options include Tooth Scaling, Flap Surgery, and replacing the infected tissue with Grafts.
In addition, there are significant findings that suggest a link between periodontal diseases and systemic conditions. The conditions include cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The discovered link between the conditions is the reason why it’s encouraged to visit a periodontist once a person experiences signs of the disease.
If you are experiencing the symptoms above, the best way to approach and prevent the disease from worsening is to visit a periodontist. If you’re seeing these signs and experiencing these symptoms, contact our office to book and appointment for a diagnosis.