Dental

Gum Disease

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums (tissues surround and support your teeth). It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it that’s a main reason for ignorance.

Who can have Gum Disease?

It’s a myth that Gum Disease happens to people of your grandparent’s age! Teens can also get gum disease, and it can cause problems from simply embarrassing like bad breath to the serious like tooth loss which is both embarrassing and serious!

Types of Gum Disease

Gingivitis

It means ‘inflammation of the gums’. Gums around the teeth become red and swollen. Often the swollen gums bleed when they are brushed during cleaning. It’s often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.

Chronic Periodontitis

Long standing gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease causes loosing teeth and it may eventually fall out. Progression of disease results in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive attachment and bone loss. This is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis and is characterized by pocket formation and/or recession of the gingiva.

Forms of Periodontitis -

Aggressive periodontitis : occurs in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. Common features include rapid attachment loss and bone destruction and familial aggregation. Localized aggressive periodontitis is found in teenagers and young adults and mainly affects the first molars and incisors. It is characterized by the severe loss of alveolar bone.
Periodontitis : as a manifestation of systemic diseases often begins at a young age.
Periodontal Disease in Women : Women are especially susceptible to periodontal disease at various stages of life like puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. This can exaggerate the gum tissues react to plaque. Gums may become red, tender, swollen and most likely to bleed.
Necrotizing periodontal disease : is an infection characterized by necrosis of gingival tissues. These lesions are most commonly observed in individuals with systemic conditions such as HIV infection, malnutrition and immunosuppression.