Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease or gingivitis, affects up to 75% of the population. It is very serious as it is one of the leading causes of tooth loss and has been linked to heart disease. But what is periodontal disease? Basically, periodontal disease begins with plaque.
Plaque continually forms on your teeth and gums. If not cleaned, it hardens and turns into tartar or tartar. The only way to remove the calculus is to have teeth scaling and root planing professional dental cleaning done in a dental office. If the stone is not removed, it causes pockets to form on the gums. It causes the gums to detach from the surface of the tooth, allowing bacteria to enter the gums and cause infection and inflammation.
At this point there may be some pain, but not always. The gums will become red and swollen, and eventually, the bacteria will damage the gums, teeth, and bones. The longer this is not treated, the bigger and more bacteria the pockets fill. The bone around the tooth will eventually dissolve and cause the tooth to loosen and fall out.
The periodontal disease most often affects adults over the age of 30, however, there are other risk factors that increase your chances of periodontal disease:
-Smoking: Smoking is highly associated with gum disease and also inhibits the treatment of gum disease.
-Diabetes: People with diabetes are at increased risk of contracting infections, including periodontal disease.
-Medicines: Certain medications cause dry mouth as a side effect, and this can be harmful to teeth and gums. Without enough saliva, the mouth becomes more prone to infections, such as gum disease. A dry mouth can also make it difficult to clean your teeth and gums.
-Genetics: if your parents have problems with their gums, you may find them too.
Periodontal disease doesn’t always show symptoms right away, however common symptoms include:
-Redness and swelling of the gums. They can feel tender and bleed easily.
-Tooth tenderness or pain when chewing
-Bad breath that is difficult to cure
-Loose tooth
-Lighting of the gum line or teeth that appear to belong
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your general dentist to have it checked out. Your dentist will do a few things to check for periodontal disease. He will take an X-ray to check for bone loss, examine your gums for signs of infection, and probe your gums to measure the depth of the pockets. Normal pocket depths are generally 1 to 3 millimeters, however infected pockets can be much larger. Probing is very quick and often painless.
If the dentist discovers that you have periodontal disease, he will create a plan for your treatment. It is important to control the infection as soon as possible. If the infection is very severe, the patient should be referred to a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating the gums.
The best way to remove plaque from gum pockets is to do a deep cleaning. This is also called scaling and root planning. In a deep cleaning, the dentist or dental hygienist will use instruments to remove the stone both above and below the gum line. They will also smooth the surface of the root to prevent bacteria from staying there. Scaling and root planning are generally not painful and, if necessary, the dentist will numb the area before working on it.
In addition to the doctor treating the gums, the patient should also practice good oral hygiene at home and take precautions to prevent the infection from returning. This can include brushing and flossing your teeth, making changes to your diet, and quitting smoking.
Proper dental care is essential to prevent and combat periodontal disease. Make sure you practice good oral hygiene at home and have your dentist clean and check your teeth twice a year to ensure a healthy mouth.
