MORE THAN 80% of the general populace have some form of gum disease, varying on location and severity. At its earliest phase, your gums might swell and bleed easily or in worst cases, you might end up losing your teeth. The bottom line in today’s topic is, if you want to keep your teeth in place, you must take care of your gums as well. Most individuals only give importance to their teeth not thinking that their gums also play an important function in the survival of the dentition.
Actually, GINGIVITIS and PERIODONTITIS are the two distinct stages of gum disease. Gingivitis simply means inflammation of the gums while periodontitis involves not only the gums but also the underlying bone support of the tooth. Each stage is characterized by what a dentist sees and feels in your mouth and by what’s happening under your gum line. Although gingivitis usually precedes periodontitis, it is important to emphasize here that not all cases of gingivitis progresses to periodontitis.
In the early stage of gingivitis, bacteria found in plaque build up causes the gum to become inflamed (red and swollen) and often easily bleeds during tooth brushing. Bleeding, although not always a symptom of gingivitis, is a signal that your mouth is unhealthy and needs attention. Although the gums may be irritated, the teeth are still firmly planted in their sockets. No bone or other tissue damage occurred at this stage. When gingivitis is left untreated, it can advance to periodontitis. As the disease progresses, the pocket deepens and more gum tissue are destroyed. At this point, there is no longer an anchor for the teeth, they become progressively loose, and the ultimate outcome is tooth loss.For simplicity of terms, some of the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease are: gums that bleed during and after tooth brushing, tender gums (red and swollen), persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth, receding gums, formation of deep pockets between teeth and loose or mobile teeth.Diagnosis of gum diseases are done by qualified dental practitioners or most specifically periodontist (a dentist who specializes in gum diseases) by checking for bleeding, swelling, and firmness of gums. The teeth are checked for movement and sensitivity. Full mouth X-rays are helpful in detecting breakdown of bone surrounding your teeth. The severity of the gum disease is determined by periodontal probing. A probe is like a tiny ruler that is gently inserted into pockets around the teeth. The deeper the pocket, the more severe the gum disease is.
Following the evaluation, your dentist or periodontist will recommend treatment appropriate to the condition noted.The goal of periodontal treatment is to control any infection that exists and to halt progression of the disease. Treatment options involve home care brushing and flossing, non-surgical procedure such as scaling and root planning (SRP) that controls the growth of harmful bacteria and in more adverse cases of disease, non-surgical intervention is advised to restore supportive tissues.Although brushing and flossing are equally important, brushing eliminates only the plaque (food debris) from the surface of the tooth that the brush can reach. Flossing on the other hand, removes plaque formed in between the teeth and under the gum line. The use of a toothpaste or mouth rinse that is approved for fighting gingivitis may be helpful but none the less it is always a must to visit your qualified dentist at least twice a year for typical check up and routine prophylaxis (cleaning) . So, be cautious when you notice that your gums are bleeding and swelling is evident. Visit your dentist at once to treat the problem immediately thus preventing the condition to further exacerbate.