What is Periodontal Disease?
The word periodontal means “around the tooth.” Healthy gum tissue fits like a cuff around each tooth. Where the gum line meets the tooth, it forms a slight v-shaped crevice called a sulcus, in the healthy teeth; this is usually three millimeters or less.
Periodontal disease is an infection which affect the tissue and bone that supports teeth. As these tissues are damaged, sulcus grows into a pocket greater than three millimeters. These enlarged pockets allow harmful bacteria to grow and make it difficult to remove the bacteria and have effective oral hygiene. Left untreated, periodontal disease leads to tooth loss.
Tooth loss is not the only potential problem posed by periodontal disease. Having periodontal diseases increases your risk for other health concerns such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, bacterial pneumonia, and increased risk during pregnancy for pre-term, low birth weight babies.
What cause periodontal disease?
The mouth is filled with countless bacteria. Periodontal disease begins when certain bacteria in plaque (the sticky film that constantly forms on the teeth and surfaces lining the mouth) produce toxins and enzymes which irritate the gums and cause inflammation. This inflammation, which can be painless, damages the attachment of the gums and bone to the teeth. It’s possible to have a periodontal disease without any symptoms being apparent to you. Periodontal disease comes in different forms the reversible is gingivitis.
What you can do?
Good oral hygiene – brushing twice and either flossing or using another interdental cleaner once a day - helps reduce plaque film. Plaque that is not regularly removed hardens into rough porous deposits calculus, or tartar. While tartar is not the main cause of periodontal diseases the pores in tartar hold bacteria and toxins, which cannot be removed with regular brushing. Once hardened tartar forms, it can only be removed with a professional cleaning at the dental office.
Update your medical history files at the dental office, any changes that occur in your health and to include all medications because many medications have side effects that increase the risk of developing periodontal disease. Tobacco users are more likely to develop periodontal disease and periodontal treatment is less successful in those patients. If periodontal disease is diagnosed, the dentist may provide treatment in those patients. If periodontal disease is diagnosed, the dentist may provide treatment or refer you to a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease.
Types of Periodontal disease
Healthy
- Healthy gingival (gum tissue), periodontal ligament and bone anchor teeth firmly on place.
Gingivitis
- Gingivitis develops as toxins, enzymes, and other plaque by-products irritate the gingiva, making them tender, swollen and likely to bleed easily.
Periodontitis
- Periodontitis occurs when plaque by products destroy the tissue that anchor teeth in the bone. As the disease progresses, pockets form, which allow more plaque to collect below the gum line. Tooth roots are exposed and become susceptible to decay and sensitive to cold and touch.
Advanced Periodontitis
- In advanced periodontitis, the teeth lose more support as the disease continues to destroy the periodontal ligament and bone. Unless treated, the affected teeth are more likely to become loose and may fall out or require removal by a dentist.
