Links Of Gum Disease

Gum disease (periodontal disease) is an infection of the tissues and bones that surround and support the teeth. Gum disease can vary from mild (gingivitis), which causes the gums to bleed easily when brushed, to severe (periodontitis), in which the bones that support the teeth are damaged and which can lead to tooth loss.

Gum disease occurs when the bacteria that are present in plaque are allowed to accumulate on and around the teeth and gums. Smoking or using spit tobacco greatly increases a person’s risk of developing gum disease. When gum disease attacks, it doesn’t hit full-force right away. It starts slowly, almost gently, beginning with some redness of the gums, tenderness and puffiness, probably a little bleeding and bad breath so relentless that even the strongest mouthwash can’t wash it away longer than a couple of minutes.

As the plaque accumulates it hardens to form tartar and eventually damages the membrane that attaches the gums to the teeth (the periodontal membrane), causing periodontal disease. This causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, forming pockets which collect even more plaque and are open to infection.

This stealthy stage is known as gingivitis, the milder but just as dangerous form of gum disease. As the disease progresses, it develops into a more severe form called periodontitis. Then, it attacks without mercy. Pockets appear around the base of the tooth. Gums pull away, causing the tooth to become loose until no more gum support is left and the tooth eventually falls out. This happens when gingivitis is ignored, because gum disease usually screams for attention.

Though gum disease often exhibits some symptoms, it may be possible to have the disease active in your mouth without any warning signs. This is why regular dental visits are very important. You don’t want to be ignoring bacteria attacking your gums that you were never aware of in the first place.

Long-term success can be achieved through a combination of daily plaque removal at home and regular monitoring and cleaning by your dental professional. Your dental professional will help you develop an effective tooth cleaning method and remove calculus from around the tooth and from the root surface (scaling).