Gum Disease & Gingivitis
Gum Disease & Gingivitis
Periodontal disease is a serious gum infection that can lead to tooth loss and contribute to systemic conditions within the body. This chronic bacterial infection affects the gums and the bone supporting the teeth, it can attack one tooth or many teeth and develops when the bacteria in plaque causes the gums to become inflamed.
Gingivitis is usually the first sign that you are having problems in maintaining an effective oral hygiene routine. Your gums may be red and swollen and they will bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort with gingivitis but the bleeding is very obvious when you brush. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and effective at home care.
Untreated gingivitis can rapidly advance to Periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread below the gum line and toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque will irritate the gums. The body reacts with an inflammatory response causing the tissues and bone to be broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming gum pockets. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed by the infection process. Often, this destruction has very mild symptoms but eventually your teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.
Gum disease is a very serious condition and its presence has been linked to many systemic conditions including heart disease and diabetes. If you feel that you may be suffering from gum disease you should contact us for an appointment immediately.