What Is Gum Disease?

Perio.org published some great information on their website about the different types of gum disease that one can suffer with.  You've heard us say this many times before, and we'll keep sharing it again and again:  early prevention saves your teeth! Take a few minutes to learn about different stages of Periodontitus and if you can relate to any of these, contact our office immediately.

PERIODONTITIS

Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

There are many forms of periodontitis. The most common ones include the following:

• Aggressive periodontitis occurs in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. Common features include rapid attachment loss and bone destruction and familial aggregation.
• Chronic periodontitis results in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive attachment and bone loss. This is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis and is characterized by pocket formation and/or recession of the gingiva. It is prevalent in adults, but can occur at any age. Progression of attachment loss usually occurs slowly, but periods of rapid progression can occur.
• Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic diseases often begins at a young age. Systemic conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes are associated with this form of periodontitis.
• Necrotizing periodontal disease is an infection characterized by necrosis of gingival tissues, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. These lesions are most commonly observed in individuals with systemic conditions such as HIV infection, malnutrition and immunosuppression.

Another simple fix that is often overlooked is to change the way you brush.  If your toothbrush bristles are too hard you can cause a lot of damage to your teeth and gums.  Hard brushing can actually remove or wear away enamel which increases your tooth sensitivity.  If you brush too vigorously, or not for the full two minutes then you will not be helping your sensitive teeth. Small changes can be applied to your oral health care routine and these changes will certainly pay off in the long run.

Don't forget out our year end special which includes 10% of all treatments, and once you start your treatment we will include a FREE fluoride varnish treatment that will strengthen the enamel on your teeth!