Gum disease, formally referred to as periodontal disease, is present in almost half of all adults over the age of 30, according to the CDC. Sounds scary, huh? Thankfully, today’s blog post also features information with solutions and prevention tips. By the way, next time you search for “best dentist in Raleigh, NC”, or “dental clinic in Raleigh, NC”, think of us first at New Hope Dental Care.
Let’s get right into it.
So What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an infestation of bacteria in your mouth that can lead to some pretty terrible things in your mouth, including moving your teeth around and destroying them slowly.
Gingivitis & Gum Disease
You’ve certainly heard of gingivitis. Well, that’s early-stage gum disease at its finest. Its source is simply the result of poor oral care and gingivitis has the nasty ability to make your gums bleed, make your breath bad, and even cause your gums to become swollen and red.
The way it works is that there is basically a tight cuff around your gums, and when irritated, it swells up, forming a gap between the tooth and the surrounding gum. This gap can become enlarged which traps both food and bacteria, embedding them around the tooth. This can be quite devastating, especially when left untreated. Gingivitis often progresses into further gum disease.
Most people, whether they realize it or not, do get gingivitis at some point in their lives. Thankfully, the typical symptoms are pretty mild and usually don’t require a serious reaction. However, the problems come when the issue is left untreated.
Bacteria, Plaque, & Tartar
The sticky film of bacteria and food that builds up around your teeth is plaque. Plaque occurs when you forget to or improperly brush, floss, and use mouthwash. Plaque is best dealt with right after it begins to form because after 72 hours it hardens into tartar. Tartar makes it incredibly hard to clean your teeth and gums completely and it forms at the gum line. The way this ties into gum disease is because this buildup over time inflames your gums, causing gingivitis, which later can turn into gum disease.
Devastation
This is the ugly part. As periodontitis begins (gum disease), the inner layer of bone and gum form pockets as they are pulled away from the teeth. These pockets between gums and teeth collect various debris in your mouth and later can become infected. Your body then experiences an immune response, fighting the bacteria the best it can while the plaque continues growing and spreading further below the gum line level.
During the fight, your body releases enzymes that fight infections. These enzymes, in conjunction with the toxins and poisons coming from the bacteria in the plaque combine and have a way of almost self-destructing. Unfortunately, this self-destruction breaks down the connective tissue and bone that keeps your teeth in their place. The pockets deepen as the disease progresses, leading to further tissue and bone eradication. Considering at this point your teeth are no longer anchored where they should be, they become loose and later fall out. Gum disease is the largest factor behind why adults lose their teeth.
Prevention & Treatment
Thankfully, it is pretty easy to prevent gum disease and it all comes down to plaque control. After all, if you eliminate plaque, gum disease can’t form. What you need to do is brush twice a day and floss. Mouthwash is another recommended add-on. The best thing that you can do for yourself is going to the dentist at least twice a year. You may truly believe that you do a good job at brushing your teeth, but most people don’t realize that they are missing very important areas.
For people who weren’t able to prevent gum disease, there are often still some solutions before it’s too late. Gum disease treatment can include reattaching healthy gums to teeth, reducing swelling, getting rid of pockets between teeth and gum, and curing the infection. The way that people respond to treatment varies and is mostly dependent on how far along you are in the disease and your current overall health. Most people have a very high chance of having their gingivitis/gum disease cured without much complication. More information about treating gum disease can be found here.
Final Thoughts
Gum disease is both preventable and treatable. However, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t serious. Plus, you can save money by avoiding a gum disease treatment plan by following the prevention guidelines we just discussed. No one wants tooth loss! Well, I guess unless you are a kid and you’re losing your baby teeth. Everyone likes money under their pillow. Again, next time you search for a dental clinic in Raleigh, NC, think of us first. You can set up an appointment here.