Gum disease is often silent, meaning symptoms may not
appear until an advanced stage of the disease
However,
warning signs of gum disease include
the following:
- Red,
swollen or tender gums or other pain in your mouth
- Bleeding
while brushing, flossing, or eating hard food
- Gums that
are receding or pulling away from the teeth, causing the teeth to look longer
than before
- Loose
or separating teeth
- Pus
between your gums and teeth
- Sores
in your mouth
- Persistent
bad breath
- A change
in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- A change
in the fit of partial dentures
- Millions
of people don't know they have this serious infection that can lead to tooth loss
if not treated.
Several distinct forms of periodontal disease with varying levels of severity are known
Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It
causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is usually
little or no discomfort at this stage. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate
oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good
oral home care.
Factors
that may contribute to gingivitis include, diabetes, smoking, aging, genetic
predisposition, systemic diseases and conditions, stress, inadequate nutrition,
puberty, hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, substance abuse, HIV infection, and
certain medication use.
Untreated gingivitis can advance to
periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow
below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the
gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in
essence turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are
broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets
(spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease
progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed.
Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can
become loose and may have to be removed.
There
are many forms of periodontitis. The most common ones include:
·
Aggressive
periodontitis occurs
in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. Common features include rapid
attachment loss and bone destruction and familial aggregation.
·
Chronic
periodontitis results
in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive
attachment and bone loss. This is the most frequently occurring form of
periodontitis. It is prevalent in adults, but can occur at any age. Progression
of attachment loss usually occurs slowly, but periods of rapid progression can
occur.
·
Periodontitis
as a manifestation of systemic diseases often begins at a young age.
·
Necrotizing
periodontal disease is
an infection most commonly observed in individuals with systemic conditions
such as HIV infection, malnutrition and immunosuppression. | 
