Gum disease: what it really is?

Gum disease is one of the most common conditions in adults, with close to 90% of dental patients experiencing some form of gingivitis. Gum disease can range from mild gingivitis to severe bone reduction causing tooth loss. While hereditary predisposition to gum disease is real, most people can take a proactive response to eliminate or even reverse this oral disease.

What Does Gum Disease Look Like?

Early forms of gingivitis appear as small, irritated areas along the gumline that may be tender or bleed when you brush and floss. Healthy gums don’t bleed when you clean them. This usually causes people to avoid flossing the areas and allowing the condition to worsen. As gingivitis turns into periodontal disease, your dentist can see signs of obvious bone loss on your routine dental x-rays. There are also deep pockets, which develop under your gums due to the presence of unhealthy bacteria in the area. When left untreated, these areas continue to worsen until so much bone and gum attachment is lost that there is nothing left to hold your teeth in place. 

Are Their Systemic Complications Associated with Gum Disease?

Yes. Active gum disease has been shown to correlate directly with an increased risk to develop:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Premature labor / Low birth weight
• Cardiovascular disease
• Erectile dysfunction

Because the bacteria present in your mouth can spread throughout the cardiovascular system, there is an increased risk for bacteria to deposit in your arteries, or complicate blood sugar levels. The severity of gum disease is directly associated with the severity of other diseases, with the risks of those conditions being greatly improved as gum disease is brought under control. 

Where Can I Have My Gum Disease Treated?

At Brampton family dentistry. Good clinics offer periodontal therapy and preventive visits for patients with all stages of gum disease. More severe cases involve something called a deep cleaning, which allows the hygienists to remove disease-causing bacteria from the surfaces of the teeth. Reputed clinics also work directly with the patients to develop a customized oral hygiene care plan that reduces plaque levels and maintains optimum oral health. 

When patients carefully follow oral care therapies for their gum disease, they are typically successful at reversing the condition. While bone levels do not grow back, improving the attachment of your gum tissue is essential to prevent further disease conditions from spreading.