Gum Disease

What Do You Know About Gum Disease?

Periodontitis is also known as periodontal disease. It starts with bacterial plaque growth in the mouth, and if not treated, the gums deteriorate, resulting in surrounding attachment loss and ultimately leading to tooth loss.

In the earliest stages of gingivitis, there can be plaque buildup causing inflammation. Gingivitis or gum inflammation may proceed to periodontitis if not treated in the office and taken care of with proper oral home care. 

The bacteria in plaque can cause swollen gums or lead to gums that bleed easily when brushing or flossing your teeth. Even though your gums might be irritated, with proper brushing and flossing techniques and frequent cleanings, inflammation can decrease, and bone loss can be avoided.

What Happens if Left Untreated?

When gingivitis gets left untreated, it might advance into a case of full periodontitis. An individual with periodontitis might experience the inner layers of their bone and gum pull away from their teeth, forming periodontal pockets in the process. These tiny spaces between the gums and teeth can accumulate debris, and plaque and tartar build up causing infection. As plaque and it’s related bacteria spread, the immune system of the human body will fight it under the gum line.

Poisons or toxins will be produced both by plaque bacteria and even the normally good enzymes the body releases, in its efforts to fight infections. These will start breaking down both the connective tissues and bone which hold teeth in position. As there is progression of the disease, these pockets get deeper, meaning even more destruction of the bone and gum tissue. As that happens, teeth become loose and begin to fall out. Resulting in a smile missing teeth. Gum disease is unfortunately the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Although both gingivitis and periodontitis can result in red swollen, bleeding gums and even dry mouth, gingivitis is one of the many stages of gum disease.

What Causes Gum Disease?

Bacterial plaque is the main cause of gum disease. Other factors might also stimulate periodontal disease. Hormonal changes which during menopause, puberty, pregnancy, and monthly menstrual cycles can have an effect on the health of your gums and progress to the development of gingivitis.

The condition your gums are in can also be affected by illnesses. HIV and cancer are two diseases that hinder your immune system, leading to gums that are more susceptible to gingivitis and periodontal disease. Patients with diabetes are also at elevated risk for cavities, periodontal disease, and developing diseases, given their body’s impacted ability to process blood sugar.

Certain medications can also impact oral health due to the decrease saliva flow, which typically protects the gums and teeth. In fact, a few medications can also trigger abnormal gum tissue growth. These would include anti-aging drugs like Adalat or Procardia or the anticonvulsant Dilantin.

Smoking weakens your immune system and the bodies ability to fight off gum disease. Smoking can result in oral cancer and it is essential to have frequent cleanings and checkups by dental specialists to ensure Oral Cancer Screenings are performed.

It’s also much easier for gingivitis to develop if you have poor oral hygiene habits such as failing to brush and floss twice daily. A family history involving dental disease is also a risk factor for developing gingivitis. Regular dental cleanings and appointments with your Chagger Dental hygienist, helps prevent plaque build-up and establish a healthy oral care routine. In addition to a professional cleaning, an appointment with one of our Chagger

Dental specialists will help determine any risk factors and underlying health conditions that can lead to tooth decay or other related conditions.

Warning Signs of Gum Disease

Gum disease can progress quite painlessly, generating only a few signs, and eventually progress to periodontal disease. The symptoms signifying periodontal disease are often quite subtle. Particular symptoms might indicate the disease is present in some form. They might include:

• Gums that bleed when brushing and/ or flossing
• Receding gums
• Persistent bad taste or bad breath
• Deep pocket formation between gums and teeth
• Shifting or loose teeth
• Changes in how teeth fit with each other when biting down, or a shift in how partial dentures fit

How to Diagnose Gum Disease

Even if you don’t notice any of the symptoms listed above, a degree of gum disease may still be present. In some people, gum disease might only impact particular teeth.

Over the course of a dental exams, your dental professional will typically check the following:

• Gum firmness, swelling, bleeding, and pocket depth
• The sensitivity, alignment, and movement of teeth
• The jawbone, in terms of its breakdown or lack thereof around teeth

The Importance of Oral Hygiene

Gum health is of utmost importance to maintaining a long lasting healthy smile. Proper dental hygiene can result in healthy gum reattachment and reduced symptoms such as swelling, pocket depth, and infection risk. Options for treatment will vary based on the actual stage of the disease, your total health, and how well you responded to any earlier treatments. Options can range from nonsurgical therapy that might control the growth of bacteria to actual surgery that restores supportive tissues.

Gingivitis is often reversible, and gum disease progression can be stopped if there is a practice of proper plaque control. This consists of frequent professional cleanings along with twice daily brushing and flossing. Brushing can eliminate plaque buildup from the surfaces of teeth which are reachable. Flossing can get to plaque and food particles that are under the gum line and between the teeth. An antibacterial mouth rinse will reduce general bacteria in the mouth that causes gum disease and plaque.

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