About Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease)

What Is Periodontal Disease, and How Does It Affect You?

When the health of your gums and the regions of your jaw bone that hold your teeth in place are compromised, periodontal therapy is required. Proper periodontal treatment and maintenance are essential for keeping your teeth.

Like a frame around a magnificent painting, healthy gums enhance the appearance of your teeth. Your gums can recede or become puffy and red if they become unhealthy. Later phases destroy the supporting bone, causing your teeth to shift, loosen, or fall out.

These alterations impact more than just your capacity to chew and speak. They also detract from your grin.

Periodontal disorders are chronic gum infections that erode the support for your natural teeth over time. Periodontal disease affects the alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, cementum, and gingiva, among other periodontal tissues.

While various diseases impact tooth-supporting structures, plaque-induced inflammatory lesions account for the bulk of periodontal problems and are categorized into Gingivitis and Periodontitis.

The milder of the two disorders, Gingivitis may or may not proceed to periodontitis, but it consistently comes before periodontitis.

Gingivitis - Periodontal Disease

Gingivitis is caused mainly by dental plaque in people genetically predisposed to it.

Plaque is a sticky, white film that forms on your teeth at and below the gum line and is made up largely of food particles and germs. Even minutes after a cleaning, plaque builds on your teeth.

Plaque bacteria create toxins, or poisons, which irritate the gums. Inflamed, red, swollen, and bleeding gums are common.

If the discomfort continues, the gums will separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces). If daily brushing and flossing are neglected, plaque can harden into calculus, a tough, porous substance (or tartar). Both above and below the gum line, this might happen.

Periodontitis - Periodontal Disease

When gingivitis turns into periodontitis, the gum tissue and bone that keep teeth in place degrade. The gradual weakening of this alveolar bone can result in tooth loosening and eventual tooth loss.

Bacteria that attach to the tooth's surface and an overly aggressive immune response to these bacteria cause periodontitis.

Periodontal disease is harmful since it is often asymptomatic and painless. By the age of 45, 80% of Americans will have periodontal disease, and 4 out of 5 individuals with the disease are completely unaware of their condition. To lower the chance of contracting this condition, you should practice good oral hygiene at home and visit the dentist regularly.

Gum disease harms your teeth, smile, and overall health.

Gum disease is a dangerous oral condition that can harm your teeth, smile, and overall health. Hundreds of bacteria emit poisons into the circulation, resulting in bone loss around the teeth. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss today, and it has been related to heart disease, diabetes, and various other systemic illnesses. Choosing a periodontist to treat this common but dangerous dental problem ensures the finest level of care for your health, wellness, and smile quality and the best chance of saving your teeth from gum disease. Periodontists are highly trained experts in gum and bone health who have considerable experience detecting and treating gum disease at all stages.

Our Periodontists are board-certified and can help you treat and manage your periodontal disease (gum disease) to get back to smiling with a healthy, happy grin. Call us for more information.