Gum Disease develops when the tissues that surround and support your teeth, the gums, get infected due to plaque. You might not even know you have gum disease because it is usually painless.
- Bleeding gums/gums bleed easily
- Tender, red, swollen gums
- Teeth are loose or separating
- Persistent bad taste or breath
- Gums have pulled away from teeth
- Change in the fit of your bit/ fit of partial dentures
Increased risk factors:
- Smoking/ Chewing Tobacco
- Poor oral hygiene
- Crooked teeth that are hard to clean
- Certain medications
The early stage of gum disease is gingivitis. This stage is reversible and can usually be eliminated by a professional cleaning and daily brushing & flossing. Gingivitis causes red, swollen gums that can bleed easily.
Advanced gum disease is periodontitis. Periodontitis affects 47.2% of adults over 30 in the USA. This can lead to loss of tissue and bone that support the teeth, this can become more severe over time. IF this happens your teeth will feel loose and start moving. This is most common in adults but it can occur at any age. Periodontitis usually slowly gets worse, but sometimes there can be period of rapid advancement.
A highly destructive form of periodontal disease is aggressive periodontitis, this occurs in patients who are otherwise healthy. Rapid loss of bone and tissue in the mouth is common for this form of gum disease.