Periodontal disease affects many adults worldwide. But what exactly is it, and how can we prevent it? In this article, we’ll shed some light on this silent destroyer of oral health.

What is Periodontal Disease?

You might be surprised to learn the mouth has a normal, diverse population of bacteria, 98% of which are either harmless or even beneficial to our health. However, when detrimental types of bacteria begin to outnumber the beneficial ones within the pockets that form between the gum and the tooth, problems start to arise.

These gum pockets are the perfect environment for destructive bacteria to thrive. Once this bacteria invades your gums, your body begins its attempt to fight off and get rid of the damaging bacteria. At this point you’ll notice your gums feeling red, tender, and swollen, and may even bleed with brushing and flossing. This is the earliest stage of periodontal disease known as gingivitis.

Gingivitis is not always painful. The only signs may be bleeding gums, bad breath that won’t go away, or more food getting trapped in the growing gaps between your teeth. It’s important not to ignore these early signs of gum disease because the good news is: gingivitis is completely reversible with a good dental cleaning and daily flossing and brushing!

However, if the harmful bacteria are not removed over time, they will attack the bone that supports your teeth. This can lead to receding gums, the loss of bone, and eventual tooth loss. This progressive disease is called periodontitis, and is responsible for 75% of adult tooth loss.

Periodontitis is a silent process, with little if any discomfort except for swollen, red, or bleeding gums, chronic bad breath, gums that feel tender to brushing and flossing, or dark spaces forming between your teeth. X-Rays and a thorough dental exam can let you know the condition of your gums and how to get them back into a healthy state.

Moreover, we are discovering that periodontal disease affects more than just your teeth and gums. When gums are chronically swollen and bleeding, the pathogenic bacteria can enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body. These virulent bacteria can cause inflammation and damage in many other organs and play a role in diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. Therefore, maintaining healthy gums is critical for overall health.

The goal of periodontal therapy is to reduce the inflammation by reducing the bacteria and hardened tartar accumulating under the gums. This is usually achieved with a series of in-depth, non-surgical cleaning procedures called Scaling and Root Planing, often referred to as deep cleaning. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline; the Root Planing smooths the root surfaces below the gums and helps gums reattach to the tooth. If areas of bone loss haven’t resolved with scaling and root planing, we may recommend seeing a periodontist–a gum and bone specialist– to evaluate for more advanced treatment to help prevent eventual tooth loss.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for periodontal disease. However, with daily care and intervention, we can keep periodontal disease stable and prevent further progression.

To prevent further gum and bone loss, regular periodontal maintenance cleanings every 3 months are critical. Equally important to regular maintenance visits is removing the bacterial plaque around your teeth and gums that accumulate each day; bacteria take no days off. The goal is to prevent the harmful types of bacteria from gaining ground and recolonizing under the gums again. It is vital that you clean in between your teeth every day with floss, and brush for 2 minutes twice a day. If you have periodontal disease, it is likely you will need to dedicate extra time to your oral health until, together, we are able to stabilize your condition.

Understanding periodontal disease is the first step to combating it. Visit your dentist regularly and stay vigilant with your oral care routine. Remember, a healthy mouth contributes to a healthy body.