Periodontitis, or gum disease, is an infection that affects the gum tissue surrounding and below the teeth. The infection damages the supporting soft tissue, and if allowed to advance, it spreads to the jawbone, destroying it and leading to tooth loss. Periodontitis is mainly caused by poor oral health when plaque and tartar produce acid or harmful bacteria that irritate the connective tissue in the mouth, causing gingivitis. Gingivitis is reversible, but if left untreated, it could progress into periodontitis.
Proper oral hygiene and early detection of the signs are the keys to stopping periodontitis. Below are the causes, signs, and treatments of gum disease to aid in early detection and prevention.
Periodontal Disease Stages
Periodontitis, also called gum disease or periodontal disease, develops gradually before it becomes aggressive. Typically, the developmental process of periodontitis starts with plaque formation in the mouth because of failure to observe proper oral hygiene. The food debris contributes to the formation of plaque.
Over time, the plaque hardens, forming calculus, or tartar. This sticky layer is usually filled with harmful bacteria and is challenging to remove with regular brushing. You require professional cleaning, which can be performed during a regular dental visit to remove the tartar.
Gingivitis or Gum Inflammation
The earliest stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis, characterized by chronic inflammation of the gingiva. Many people do not know when they develop the disease because it is not associated with pain. However, there are common signs of the disease, such as:
- Bad breath
- Bad taste
- Itchy gum tissue
- Puffy gums
- Red gums
- Gum recession
- Mouth sores
Bleeding during brushing is a common sign of the disease. Tooth discoloration caused by plaque accumulation is another way of telling if you have gingivitis. However, most of the time, your dentist identifies them during routine checkups.
The leading cause of gum inflammation is poor dental hygiene. It allows plaque buildup in the mouth, which hardens to form tartar. The calculus creates a conducive environment for breeding toxic or acidic bacteria that irritate the gum tissue, causing inflammation. Other causes of chronic gingival inflammation are smoking, genetic predisposition, stress, diabetes, puberty, or substance abuse.
Early Periodontitis
If you do not regularly visit your dentist at least twice a year, you might not notice many symptoms of gingivitis, allowing it to progress into early gum disease. In this stage, the body attempts to fight the gum infection, leading to inflammation that causes the gums to start pulling away, which is called gum recession. This creates small pockets between the teeth and the receded gums. These pockets collect food debris and become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria. Bleeding during brushing and flossing is also a common sign of the disease.
Moderate Periodontitis
Moderate gum disease develops when you fail to arrest the infection in the early periodontitis stage. At the moderate stage, you experience pain in the gums. Also, you experience bleeding in the connective tissue. Besides, bone loss progresses, and teeth loosen.
Advanced or Periodontitis
When periodontitis becomes aggressive, the connective tissue becomes completely damaged while the jawbone deteriorates, leading to tooth loss. This stage of the gum disease is characterized by severe pain when chewing, halitosis, and a foul taste. Additionally, you could start losing teeth.
Signs of Periodontal Disease
You can seek early intervention for periodontitis by realizing the signs of the disease. You can spot the signs in person or during routine checks. Besides, the signs vary depending on the stage of the condition. The general symptoms that you should look out for are:
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Receding Gums
Gum recession is a dental condition where gums pull away from the teeth, exposing the tooth root and inner teeth components, leading to tooth sensitivity. The recession can happen on one or multiple teeth and is associated with pain and sensitivity along the gumline when brushing.
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Bad Breath or Halitosis
You can experience bad breath because of poor dental hygiene. However, in some instances, the foul breath could be due to an underlying condition like gum disease. Therefore, when you notice foul breath, sometimes accompanied by a bad taste in the mouth, the body could signal that you have periodontitis, and you should go for an examination.
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Pain when Biting or Chewing
Initially, gum disease affects the gingiva surrounding the teeth, but as the disease advances, the infection spreads deeper, destroying the bone and connective tissues supporting the teeth. Therefore, when you chew or bite, you apply pressure on the infected area, causing severe pain.
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Puffy, red, or Swollen Gums
Health issues like hormonal changes, infections, vitamin deficiencies, and periodontal disease can cause gum swelling or inflammation. The swelling is usually an immune response as it attempts to fight the infection. When the gums are inflamed, they turn red and puffy because of the elevated blood flow. So, when your gums turn red and puffy, they are swollen, which can be a sign of gum disease.
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Teeth Loosening
Loose teeth can cause mouth discomfort and indicate impending tooth loss. Periodontal disease is an infection that spreads when not identified and treated early. So, if the infection spreads, it damages the bone and connective tissue surrounding the teeth, making them loosen and, at last, fall off.
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Malocclusion or Teeth Misalignment
When gum disease causes teeth to loosen, they shift from their original position, causing bite problems like underbites and overbites. Therefore, if you are experiencing tooth misalignment, it could be a sign of periodontitis, and you should visit your dentist for a thorough oral exam.
The symptoms of gum disease in the early stages go unnoticed by many patients, explaining why the disease progresses to the advanced stage without many patients noticing. Regular dental visits are essential for thorough examinations that can identify signs of gum disease.
Periodontitis Causes
A healthy mouth contains healthy bacteria. Nevertheless, failing to maintain proper oral hygiene creates room for the growth and breeding of harmful bacteria, which causes periodontal disease. The oral concern does not develop instantly. It develops gradually through various phases. So, when you fail to observe proper oral health by brushing and flossing your teeth and visiting the dentist regularly for oral examination, you should expect:
- The bacteria in the mouth breed and combine with food debris to form a sticky layer called plaque.
- Plaque can be removed through regular brushing, but the bacteria deposit additional minerals on the layer if you fail.
- The mineral deposits harden the plaque further, creating a thick layer called tartar or calculus that cannot be removed through regular cleaning.
- The calculus enables further bacterial growth, which spreads towards the tooth root and ligaments supporting the teeth.
- The body’s immune system attempts to fight the bacteria, causing the gingiva or gum tissue to swell.
- The swelling disrupts how the gum tissue attaches to the tooth root, causing the gums to pull away in gum recession.
- The recession creates pockets between the gum and the root. The pockets trap food debris and harmful bacteria. The toxic bacteria multiply and produce toxins that cause further damage to the gums, tooth root, and jawbone.
Apart from poor dental hygiene, other factors that increase the risk of periodontitis are:
Tobacco Smoking
Gums experience mild damage, but the body repairs it naturally. Nevertheless, harmful habits like tobacco chewing or smoking upset the pH in the mouth, preventing the body from repairing the mild damage in the gums, increasing the risk of periodontitis.
Organic Changes in the Mouth
Metabolic changes or hormonal level imbalance during pregnancy, menopause, or puberty increase the sensitivity of gum tissue, causing irritation and swelling, which is the first phase of periodontal disease.
Medical Illnesses
Some illnesses, like diabetes or kidney disease, impair the body’s capacity to regulate sugar, increasing the risk of periodontal disease when excess sugar builds up in the mouth. Besides, diseases like HIV/AIDS and leukaemia lower the body’s immunity, elevating the risk of infections, including in the gums.
Certain Medications
Certain medications, such as antihistamines and antidepressants, can reduce saliva production, leading to dry mouth. Saliva provides a protective layer to the mouth; without it, you risk gum disease.
Periodontitis Diagnosis
Spotting the signs of periodontal disease is not enough to determine that you have the oral condition. You must visit your dentist for an examination and diagnosis.
Usually, periodontal disease is diagnosed during routine dental checkups because the symptoms of the disease are rarely noticeable. The dentist thoroughly examines the tooth surfaces and the entire oral cavity during these checkups. On the teeth, they check to see if there is plaque or calculus accumulation. Besides, they check the gums for redness or inflammation. If your teeth are loose or have deep pockets, it could signify periodontitis. During your appointment with the dentist, ensure that you disclose all your medical history details, including foul breath or a diagnosis of a medical illness that increases the risk of periodontal disease.
The dentist measures the depth of the pockets. If they are larger than usual, it could be a periodontal disease. Measurements are conducted using a dental probe placed under the gumline in different areas where the tooth roots are exposed.
Advanced gum disease is associated with jawbone loss and damaged connective tissue. The damage to the bones might not be visible to the naked eye, prompting your dentist to recommend an X-ray to establish the extent of the damage.
If your condition is in the early stages, the dentist can remove the plaque or calculus and give instructions for caring for your teeth to reverse the condition. However, when the disease is in advanced stages, the dentist will refer you to a periodontist for diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment Options for Periodontitis
Seeking treatment early, when you observe the symptoms of the disease or when your dentist diagnoses you during a routine dental examination, is crucial to reverse the condition. In the early stages, treatment of the dental concern entails removing the plaque and calculus, which causes the infection or growth of toxic bacteria in the gums. Removing the harmful bacteria, toxins, and plaque prevents the spread of the disease and additional damage. Dentists apply non-surgical solutions to arrest periodontitis before it advances. These treatments are:
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Administering Antibiotics
Periodontitis is a bacterial infection that affects the gums, ligaments, and bones supporting the teeth. A periodontics professional will recommend antibiotics to kill the infection. Additionally, the experts may insert localized antibiotics into the pockets caused by the infection to kill bacteria if there is a risk that the disease could reemerge. Nevertheless, when the infection has damaged the jawbone, the condition is irreversible. Your dentist may have to use antibiotics as part of the comprehensive surgical treatment plan.
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Root Planing
Another nonsurgical treatment your periodontics expert uses to treat periodontal disease is root planing, entailing the smoothing of tooth root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus accumulation below the gumline.
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Scaling
A periodontics professional conducts scaling to extract the tartar from the tooth surface. Calculus is complicated to remove using regular brushing; hence, there is a need for professional cleaning. Even though it sounds like a minor procedure, it could introduce harmful bacteria into the bloodstream. So, disclose your medical history before the scaling procedure.
In an advanced stage when damage has occurred to the supporting bone and ligaments, you will require surgical solutions to the problem. The standard surgical treatments for periodontitis are:
- Tissue grafts
- Bone grafts
- Pocket reduction operation
- Tissue stimulation
- Tissue regeneration
Surgical procedures are complex, so you should find a competent expert to lower the risk of complications and achieve your desired outcome.
Find an Experienced Periodontics Expert Near Me
Periodontitis causes pain, bad breath, bleeding, and, in severe cases, tooth loss. These symptoms can dent your self-esteem. Thankfully, the infection is reversible with early detection. Treatment usually entails instructions for proper oral health, professional cleaning, antibiotics, and, in advanced cases, surgery. Frequent follow-up appointments are also recommended to prevent the disease from recurring. So, you should understand the signs of the disease or visit your dentist frequently for an early diagnosis and treatment. We can conduct an early diagnosis and treatment at Lasting Impressions Dental Spa. Call us at 818-751-5100 to learn all you need to know about periodontitis in Encino, CA.
