subject: Understanding Periodontal Disease - Do You Know The Warning Signs? [print this page] Many people do not become alarmed when their gums bleed while brushing or flossing their teeth. Swollen and bleeding gums are early signs that your gums are infected with bacteria. If nothing is done, the infection can spread and worsen, destroying the structures that support your teeth in your jawbone. Eventually, periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss. In recent years, gum disease has been linked to other health problems, making it more important than ever to treat gum disease in its earliest stage - gingivitis.
While your dentist can only detect early signs of periodontal disease, there are several other indicators that begin to appear as the disease progresses. Symptoms may include:
*Red, swollen or tender gums
*Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing
*Teeth that have shifted or loosened
*Pus between teeth and gums
*Persistent bad breath
*Teeth that look longer because gums have receded
*Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
*Changes in the way teeth fit together when biting
*Changes in the way partial dentures fit
What is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease and is the inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gum line. If daily brushing and flossing do not remove the plaque, it produces toxins that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. You may notice some bleeding during brushing and flossing. At this early stage of gum disease, damage can be reversed with proper treatment from your dentist in Syracuse since bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place are not yet affected.
Periodontitis - What is it?
The next stage of gum disease is periodontitis, which is when the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged. Your gums may begin to form a pocket below the gum line, which traps food and plaque. Proper dental treatment and improved home care can usually help prevent further damage.
However, if proper treatment is not received your periodontitis can progress into advanced periodontitis. In this final stage of gum disease, the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are destroyed, which can cause your teeth to shift or loosen. This can also affect your bite and, if aggressive treatment can't save them, teeth may need to be removed.
Treating Periodontal Disease
If periodontal disease is diagnosed in the early stage of gingivitis, it can be treated with a thorough professional cleaning. If the disease has progressed beyond gingivitis to periodontitis, the treatment may involve a process called "deep cleaning" or "root planing," which involves cleaning and smoothing of the root surfaces of the teeth to remove calculus and bacterial deposits below the gum line so that the gums can heal around them. This procedure requires several appointments, depending on your level of periodontal disease.
In cases of advanced periodontitis, when deep pockets have formed between the teeth and gums, surgery may be required to allow your dentist to thoroughly clean the roots of the teeth and eliminate the pockets.
Be sure to maintain regular visits to your dentist to catch periodontal disease early in its tracks. Talk to your dentist in Syracuse today for more information on how you can maintain at-home dental hygiene to further protect your teeth and gums from periodontal disease.
