Gum disease – also known as periodontal disease – is a progressive dental issue that can start out as something easily treatable and reversible but, if left untreated, can become a serious dental issue with permanent ramifications. However, with good home oral hygiene and regular dental cleanings, almost everyone can avoid the more serious stages of periodontal disease.
What are the stages of gum disease / periodontal disease?
– Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease.
If you’ve noticed that your gums bleed when you brush or floss, you are experiencing the beginnings of gum disease, even if your gums do not hurt. But don’t worry: a thorough dental cleaning with continued oral hygiene at home can reverse the inflammation that is causing the bleeding.
A professional dental cleaning is generally needed to get rid of gingivitis once it has started. This is because gingivitis is caused by plaque build up and plaque is nearly impossible to remove without professional dental tools.
– If gingivitis is left untreated, it can lead to periodontitis, even if you are regularly brushing and flossing.
The next thing you’ll notice after your gums begin to bleed while brushing and flossing is that your gums will be tender and swollen, and the affected areas will become a brighter red color than the rest of the healthy gum tissue. This is because the plaque and its bacteria are attacking the healthy gum tissue.
You may also experience halitosis (bad breath) or a bad taste in your mouth that doesn’t seem to go away. This “off” taste or bad breath is the result of bacteria living and thriving in your mouth.
The next stage of gum disease is when the gum tissue begins to shrink. This may leave gaps between your teeth where there used to be gum tissue. Not only is this a sign of progressing periodontal disease, it exacerbates the problem because the gap between the teeth gives bacteria another place to grow. These spots are sometimes hard to get at with a toothbrush and floss.
If the gum retreats enough, the root of your tooth will begin to be exposed. At this point, the bacteria in your mouth can then easily attack the root of the tooth. This may necessitate a root canal or even a tooth extraction.
The bacteria can also create a pocket underneath the gum line that can become filled with infection, which can further endanger your teeth, your gum tissue, and even your jawbone.
At this stage, the bacteria can also begin to destroy the bone and connective tissue that holds your tooth in place. Your tooth may become loose and even fall out, due to the deterioration of the materials that hold the tooth in place. In fact, process is exactly why periodontal disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults.
What causes gum disease?
Plaque is a clear, stick substance, full of bacteria, that is constantly forming in our mouths. Good brushing and flossing habits can keep most plaque at bay, but because it’s difficult to get rid of all the plaque in your mouth, some of it may harden into tartar. Tartar can only be removed with professional dental instruments.
If plaque isn’t completely washed away every day, it can cause an inflammation of the gum tissue. This is the first step of gum disease.
How can I prevent gum disease?
The first steps to preventing gum disease are getting regular professional dental cleanings and maintaining a healthy oral hygiene practice at home. If you have questions about any of these steps, we’re happy to discuss this with you at greater length.
However, there are also lifestyle choices that can increase the likelihood of gum disease developing. Smoking or chewing tobacco, regularly drinking beverages with sugar in them (including regular soda, juice, alcohol, and coffee and tea sweetened with sugar), and eating a diet high in sugar (especially refined sugars) can increase the chances that you will begin to develop gum disease and that it may progress more quickly than in people who don’t have these same habits.
Both pregnancy and diabetes can also increase the chances that gum disease will develop so if you are pregnant or have diabetes, you should take extra care with your home oral health routine and make sure to schedule regular dental cleanings. Finally, some medications, including steroids, can make it harder to stave off periodontal disease.
If you take any medications (including herbal supplements) regularly, at your next appointment, please let Dr. Sheehan know what you take and what the dose is. This will help him determine if you need to take extra steps to avoid gum disease.