Periodontal Disease: What Is It?

Gum disease is also known as periodontal disease, and it describes an infection of the bone and soft tissue that support and surround your teeth. Periodontal disease has two separate stages: The gum tissue swells and becomes red during the early stage of gingivitis. The second condition, periodontitis, may cause the gums to actually peel away from the teeth, the bones to deteriorate, and the teeth to become loose and maybe fall out.

What Leads to It?

Bacteria are the most straightforward explanation for what causes periodontal disease. If oral bacteria are not controlled, they produce plaque, a film that forms on teeth and eventually becomes tartar (calculus). This illness develops from the tartar, often below the gum line, and damages the teeth, gums, and bones by inflaming them.

What Are the Risk Elements?

While germs are the primary cause of periodontal disease, there are a variety of habits or circumstances that might increase a person’s risk of it starting and worsening. Smoking, poor dental hygiene, diabetes, immune-suppressing illnesses, medications that decrease saliva production, hormonal changes in girls and women, stress, crooked teeth, and genetic susceptibility are some of the main risk factors.

What Are Its Red Flags?

The following are some of the most prevalent and evident indicators of periodontal disease:

• Pain while chewing;
• Sensitive teeth;
• Changes to your bite;
• Pulling away of gum tissue from teeth; 
• Tender/bleeding gums; 
• Constant poor breath or unpleasant taste in the mouth

What Is The Treatment?

The first thing that patients should remember once their dentist or dental hygienist diagnoses periodontal disease is that the success of any treatment choice will depend on their desire to maintain proper oral hygiene practices at home. Having said that, gingivitis, the first stage of periodontal disease, can be managed by routine hygienist cleanings along with twice-daily brushing and flossing. More extreme treatment options, including extensive cleaning of the roots beneath the gum line, oral surgery, orally administered antibiotics, or other drugs, may be necessary for more advanced periodontal disease.

More Information Regarding Periodontal Disease

The CDC reports that periodontal disease affects 47% of all persons over 30 and 70% of those over 65. Men are more likely than women to get periodontal disease (56%) compared to women (38%).

• Periodontal disease affects 64% of current smokers.