Gum disease, or periodontitis, is a potentially serious oral health condition that requires a visit to a dentist. Gum disease is very common and affects people of all ages but tends to affect individuals more as they age. A dentist can diagnose gum disease, as well as recommend practices and procedures to improve the condition.
Gum disease is characterized by an infection of the gums, which ultimately wears the gums down and can affect bones and teeth. Gum disease is usually preventable, and the ideal treatment for it is to prevent it through good oral health practices and regular visits to a dentist.
Gum disease can appear differently in different individuals and may be mild or severe, depending on the stage it is in. Common symptoms of gum disease include the following:
Gum disease typically begins with oral bacteria interacting with starches and sugars to produce plaque. Regular brushing and flossing will remove plaque, but if oral habits are not kept up, plaque can harden into tartar.
Early gum disease is called gingivitis and is characterized by irritation around the base of the teeth. More serious gum disease, however, can subsequently develop if gingivitis is left untreated, as pockets between the gums and teeth are filled with plaque and tartar. This can lead to deeper and more serious infections that can damage teeth and bone and even affect other parts of the body.
The most controllable cause of gum disease is poor oral health habits — in other words, failing to brush twice a day, floss daily, and regularly rinse. The use of fluoride toothpaste, as well as a soft toothbrush, can also often be helpful in preventing and managing gum disease.
Other factors can also play a role, including genetics, your local water source (and whether or not it contains fluoride), diet, smoking or drug use, use of other medications, and other factors.
A visit to a dentist can alert you to ongoing or impending gum disease, as well as the general state of your gum health. A dentist can identify gum disease and help you take steps to slow or prevent it, while also alerting you to possible treatments, if necessary.
Gum disease is sometimes visually obvious, and its stage can be fairly quickly noted by a dentist. In some cases, a dentist may use a probe to measure the size of pockets between the teeth and gums, to measure any ongoing recession and clearly pinpoint the current level of gum disease.
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Ultimately, responsible oral health practices are essential to protect against gum disease. Alongside these efforts, regular visits to the dentist can ensure tartar is removed from teeth and you stay alert to any signs of developing gum disease.
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