Gum Care

Category

Gum Care

Periodontitis

Periodontitis (pyorrhea) is severe inflammation of your gums, with symptoms that include red, bleeding, or swollen gums. If left untreated, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss. Treatment may involve deep dental cleaning or, in severe cases, surgery. Regular brushing and flossing can prevent periodontitis.

Periodontitis affects more than 47% of adults over age 30 in the U.S. That number jumps to around 70% for adults 65 years and over.

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

What are the symptoms of periodontitis?

• Healthy gums are firm to the touch and fit snugly around your teeth. In comparison, periodontitis symptoms include:
• Reddish or purplish gums.
• Swollen gums.
• Gums that bleed easily.
• Tender gums.
• Bad Breath
• Pus (infection) around your gum line.
• Loose teeth.
• Tooth loss.
• Gum Recession (when your gums pull away from your teeth).
• Pain when chewing.
• New gaps or spaces between your teeth.
• Changes in the way your teeth fit together.

Unless you get treatment, gum disease continues to worsen, wreaking havoc on your oral health. It leads to a vicious cycle of infection that can end in tooth loss.

Research has also proven that gum disease has a direct impact on your overall health and well-being. There’s a link between gum disease and other health issues like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Gum disease isn’t curable, but it’s manageable with appropriate treatment. You can’t cure it because once you lose structural support around your teeth, you don’t usually get all of it back. However, periodontal treatment can reduce infection and rebuild your bone and tissue to some degree.