Sep 06, 2022

How serious is periodontal disease?

Periodontitis is a gum disease that results in the infection of the tissues that support your teeth. The disease usually results in the inflammation of the gum tissue, and symptoms can be mild or severe depending on how the disease has advanced.

People suffering from periodontal disease need to seek treatment early, or they might lose one or several teeth as the disease progresses to later stages.

Early gum disease treatment is more affordable and usually includes deep dental cleaning; good oral hygiene is also recommended to prevent the disease from occurring in the first place.

Causes of Periodontal Disease

One of the most common causes of periodontal disease is bacteria. Our mouths usually contain bacteria, mucus, and plaque. Regular brushing and flossing are usually enough to control the bacteria in your teeth while also removing the plaque, which, if not removed, hardens to tartar, making it difficult to get rid of.

Once the plaque turns to tartar, the only way to have it removed will be to a dentist in 60453 for professional dental cleaning.

Apart from bacteria and plaque accumulation, other factors can also increase the chances of getting periodontal disease. Smoking is an excellent example of a factor that causes periodontitis in many of our patients.

Smoking is not only bad for your gums, but it can cause cancer and other health problems. If you smoke regularly, try to use nicotine patches to quit slowly and if that fails, seek help from a professional.

Other risk factors for periodontitis are diabetes and AIDS, which weakens the immune system if not controlled, hormonal changes in women, genetics, and disease that reduce saliva flow in the mouth.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

You might not end up experiencing all these symptoms simultaneously, ranging from mild to severe, depending on how the disease has progressed.

  • Red, swollen gums
  • Increased tooth sensitivity
  • Soft bleeding gums
  • Bad breath that lasts
  • Teeth that appear longer than usual, caused by receding gums
  • Having loose teeth
  • Pain when chewing

Stages of Periodontal Disease

Stage 1: Healthy Gums

This is where the gums have not yet started showing any signs of infection. At this stage, your gums are still healthy, firm, and pink with no recession. Teeth also are firmly held and don’t have signs of infection.

Stage 2: Gingivitis

This is when the gum disease has not yet advanced to the bones, and the disease can be reversed If detected early. Gingivitis usually occurs due to bad oral hygiene leading to plaque buildup on the teeth. What makes gingivitis challenging to treat is its mild early symptoms; thus, most people ignore or don’t notice them. So see a dentist as soon as you notice redness and swelling on the gums and bad breath.

Stage 3: Early Periodontitis

This stage is not reversible but manageable. When you are in this stage, the infection would have spread to the bones and started to cause bone loss. The bacteria would have also evolved and become aggressive, so good oral hygiene alone won’t stop it from spreading. Signs of early or slight periodontitis include bad breath, swollen red gums, bleeding when brushing or flossing, and a probing depth of 4-5 millimeters.

Stage 4: Moderate Periodontitis

This stage is also not reversible; symptoms are similar to stage 3 but more severe. The probing depth would now be at more than 6 millimeters, making it easier for bacteria to spread to your bone and bloodstream, weakening your immune system. Treatment at this stage would be in the form of scaling and root planing. Gum disease treatment at this stage is crucial to prevent severe bone deterioration and tooth loss.

Stage 5: Advanced Periodontitis

At this stage, the risk of bone loss would have significantly risen to more than 50%. Gums would be red, swollen, and oozing pus. Chewing would be painful, and teeth would either be too sensitive or fall. You would also go through severe halitosis, and surgery or periodontal laser therapy would be necessary to clean the bacteria-filled pockets.

Complications From Periodontal Disease

There are many complications from tooth loss; the most common ones include:

  • Painful tooth abscesses
  • Shifting of teeth
  • Receding gums
  • Tooth loss and bone loss
  • Heart and birth complications

Conclusion

Periodontal disease should not be taken lightly. Late diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease not only puts your dental health in jeopardy but can also result in heart and birth complications.

Visit Family Dental Care – Chicago for gum disease treatment. We accept dental insurance and other payment methods to ensure all our patients have access to affordable dental care.

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