3 Facts To Know About Periodontal Disease

Posted on: 27 September 2016

Gum disease is incredibly common, especially among older individuals even though it is a preventable disease. If your dentist has warned you that you have or may develop gum disease, check out these three facts you need to know about periodontal disease.

Gingivitis Is Easily Treated

Periodontal disease comes in two forms: gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is easily treated with at-home changes to your oral health, such as brushing and flossing regularly. You'll also want to have a professional cleaning to remove any irritating tartar, and your dentist may suggest scaling and root planing, which cleans your teeth below the gum line. People with periodontitis often have pockets or gaps between their teeth and gums. Bacteria and tartar thrive in this hard-to-reach area, which is why scaling and root planing is necessary. Your dentist may also prescribe an anti-bacterial rinse.

Periodontitis Can Lead to Tooth Loss

Periodontitis doesn't just irritate your gums. When left untreated, it starts to affect the jawbone too. As the disease continues to run rampant, it may cause your gums to recede, revealing your tooth roots. Tooth roots aren't protected by enamel, so when exposed, they are extremely susceptible to decay and infection. Your jaw bone can diminish when exposed to periodontitis. When this happens, it cannot support the teeth as well. They become lose and are likely to fall out.

Tooth Replacement Options Are Limited

The great thing about dental care is that there are so many cosmetic services to give you the smile you want. If you have missing teeth, simply get a dental implant or dental bridge. Unfortunately, if you have untreated periodontitis, you aren't the best candidate for these tooth-replacement options. A bridge requires strong teeth to support it, and if your jawbone is diminished, your teeth aren't as strong as they need to be. Similarly, an implant needs a strong jawbone to support the titanium implant. If you do manage to get an implant when you have periodontitis, you may develop peri-implantitis, which can expose the titanium root and increase the risk of failure.   

Gingivitis may be mildly annoying, but it is a serious condition you should treat. If not, it can advance to periodontitis and increase the risk of tooth loss. Unless you get your gum disease under control, dentures are your only good option to replace missing teeth. For more information about periodontal disease, contact a dentist in your area today. 

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