Learn more about gum disease, its symptoms and how to treat this common problem.
Dr. Aretha Yamusah of Burton Dental Associates in Grand Rapids, MI, provides patients with much needed oral care. She provides patients with biannual checkups and regular checkups as a preventative measure to prevent dental problems like gum disease.
What is gum disease?
"Half of Americans aged 30 or older have periodontitis, the more advanced form of periodontal disease. This equals approximately 64.7 million Americans," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Gum disease, which is sometimes referred to as periodontal disease, is a disease of the gums that can also damage the teeth and jawbone. In fact, it is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Gum disease causes inflammation and potentially permanent damage to the gums and bone if left untreated.
What's the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis?
You may hear about gingivitis (gum inflammation). It precedes gum disease. During the early stage of gingivitis, bacterial buildup in plaque causes gums inflammation and gum bleeding when brushing. Gums are irritated but still firmly attached to sockets, which is good news because no irreversible bone loss or tissue damage has occurred.
When gingivitis is left untreated, it progresses to periodontitis, where gum tissue pulls away from teeth and form pockets. These pockets accumulate debris and can become infected and spread to the rest of your mouth. If you don't visit your Grand Rapids dentist, you may suffer from tooth loss.
What causes gum disease?
- Hormonal changes
- Illnesses
- Medications
- Bad habits, like smoking
- Poor oral hygiene habits
- Genetics
What are the signs of gum disease?
Gum disease may be painless but symptoms vary from one person to another. The symptoms of gum disease include:
- Gums that bleed easily during tooth brushing
- Red, swollen, tender, or receding gums
- Continuous bad breath
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums
- Loose or shifting teeth
How is gum disease treated?
Early stages of gum disease can be reversed with proper oral hygiene and more frequent dental cleanings. There are other lifestyle changes that our dentist may also recommend to reverse gingivitis.
The most common treatment option for gum disease is scaling and root planing, a deep dental cleaning performed under local anesthetic that gets under the gums and removes plaque, tartar and bacteria from under the gums and the roots of the teeth to reduce inflammation and to prevent tooth loss.
Severe gum disease may require surgery, tooth extractions and the placement of dental implants or other tooth replacements.
Do you need a consultation?
Dr. Aretha Yamusah of Burton Dental Associates in Grand Rapids, MI, provides patients with much needed oral care as a preventative measure to prevent gum disease. If you'd like to schedule an appointment, call (616) 455-9900 today.