Knowing the stages of Gum disease

For a person’s dental health, it is important to take good care of the gums as much as the teeth. If gum disease develops and goes untreated, it will lead to a major discomfort for the person, tooth misalignment, and may lead to tooth loss and issues on the jawbone. Understanding the three major stages of gum disease can help in preventing further harm on the mouth.

Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. It is considered to be an infection characterized by inflammation. The inflammation of the gums is caused by the build up of dental plaque on teeth, particularly where the gum joins the tooth.  If the plaque is not removed through daily brushing or flossing, it will produce toxins that can irritate the gum tissue causing gingivitis. A person may notice redness and swelling of the gums and the gums will bleed when brushing and flossing.

If the supporting bone and fibers that hold the teeth in place are irreversibly damaged, a person may have periodontitis. This condition occurs when gingivitis is left untreated. Gum recession occurs due to the formation of periodontal pockets below the gum line trapping food and plaque causing further inflammation. This will affect the covering of the tooth root called the cementum, the bone and the fibres that connect the cementum to the bone called the periodontal ligament.

The final stage of gum disease is called the advanced periodontitis. This is the most advanced gum disease where the fibers and bone supporting the teeth are destroyed causing it to shift or loosen. The teeth will have exposed roots leading to major issues with sensitivity. One can experience acute and painful gum abscess around the teeth and pus mixed with blood may sometimes be seen draining out at the gum line. Bone loss and tooth loss is likely to occur.

There are a lot of treatment options available that can help restore a person’s dental health. Early stages of gum disease can often be reversed with proper brushing and flossing. This will help keep plaque from building up. For the advanced stages, it is best to seek treatment immediately from a periodontist. The only way to remove the plaque and tartar present on the mouth is through professional cleaning to prevent further infection. They can scale the teeth to remove the tartar above and below the gumline. For severe cases, a root planing procedure may be performed to help smooth irregularities on the roots of the teeth making it more difficult for plaque to deposit there.