Gum Disease is a broad term that's used to describe many different diseases. It comes in many varieties and affects most adults. The problem is most of the time it's painless so it goes undetected but continues to do damage. I'm going to break it down a little bit here.

Let's first talk about gingivitis. This is an inflammation in the gum tissue. Instead of pink gum tissue the gums will look red and swollen. The gums bleed easily and you may notice this when brushing or flossing. At this stage the bone surrounding the teeth is not affected. Certain conditions can induce gingivitis such as puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, some medications, malnutrition, some viral and fungal infections, and allergic reactions. Most times though, gingivitis is caused by bacteria in plaque. The good news is at this point it's reversible.

Periodontitis is a different animal altogether. Periodontitis not only affects the gums but also the bone support around the teeth. The bacteria here live deep in spaces between the gums and teeth that we call "pockets". Deep pockets in this case is not a good thing. Deep pockets indicate that more bone has been lost which will not come back. Deep pockets also mean that a greater number of disease causing bacteria can live there. Eventually the bone loss can be so severe that the teeth are not well supported and become loose. Gum infections can also occur. Periodontitis (periodontal disease) is one of the leading causes for tooth loss. Some risk factors include diabetes, and smoking. There's no cure for periodontal disease. Once you have it you will always have it, but there's treatment. Reducing the depth of the pockets and the number of bacteria will allow us to control the disease. Everyone is susceptible to this disease to different degrees. Therefore, there's no single treatment regimen that will fit everyone.

There's growing evidence that there's a link between gum disease and overall health. Since the bacteria and their toxins involved in gum disease can enter the blood stream easily. It's no surprise that research shows a higher incidence of heart attacks, strokes, preterm births, as well as other health problems in patients with gum disease.

It's important that your level of risk for this disease is assessed by your dentist and treatment should be aimed at reducing the risk for future problems.

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