Maintaining excellent oral care is vital to your overall health and well-being, yet gum disease remains a common oral health issue affecting many people worldwide. Periodontal disease, also commonly known as gum disease, is a progressive condition that can significantly impact your oral health and well-being. Fortunately, it is a preventable and treatable condition, especially when detected early.

Since this condition does not develop overnight, understanding its different stages can help you protect your smile and oral health. If you want to learn more about this condition, or you suspect that you or a loved one has the condition, you are in the right place. In this article, you will find straightforward information on periodontal disease, including its causes, symptoms, and available treatments.

Understanding Periodontal Disease and Different Symptoms of this Condition

"Periodontal" refers to the area surrounding the tooth. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease or periodontitis, is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects your gums and supporting tissues that hold your teeth in place, including the jawbone. As mentioned in the previous sentence, periodontitis develops gradually, making it a preventable condition.

Generally speaking, periodontitis occurs when you leave gingivitis untreated. Gingivitis is a bacterial infection of your gum tissues, often caused by plaque and tartar buildup on the surface of your teeth and below the gumline.

When left untreated, plaque bacteria produce acids that irritate gum tissue in the food you consume daily and release irritating acidic excretions that may cause your gums to pull away from the teeth.

Since gingivitis is the first stage of periodontitis, recognizing its symptoms can help you take proactive steps to protect your oral and dental health. Common symptoms you will notice during the onset of gum disease (gingivitis) include:

  • Bad breath
  • Red and bleeding gums
  • Gums that bleed easily when you brush your teeth
  • Gum tenderness and swelling

However, if your gingivitis has progressed to the advanced stages or periodontitis, you may experience the following symptoms:

  • Gum recession
  • Gum tenderness
  • Teeth that bleed easily when flossing or brushing your teeth
  • Chronic bad breath or halitosis
  • Periodontal pockets (spaces between your teeth and gum)
  • Tooth mobility or changes in your tooth alignment

When you notice any of these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. If you have relocated to a new residence or your dentist has retired, you should make arrangements to find another dentist as quickly as possible. When left unchecked, periodontal disease could eventually lead to the loss of the affected tooth.

Types of Periodontal Disease That You Ought to Know

While symptoms vary from person to person, in the early stages of periodontal disease, they are minimal. That is why it is advisable to schedule regular appointments with your dentist for routine checkups and examinations. Your dentist can detect your susceptibility to gum disease and offer immediate treatment.

Nonetheless, here are four types of periodontal disease that you ought to know about:

Aggressive Periodontitis

Aggressive periodontitis is a severe condition characterized by severe bone loss and destruction of the tissues that hold your gums in place. A family history may increase your risk of this condition.

Systemic Periodontitis

Sometimes, periodontitis is a symptom of certain systemic health conditions. Even if you have the best oral care routine, you could develop systemic periodontitis if you have certain systemic conditions. Common causes of systemic periodontitis among most patients include the following:

  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Pregnancy
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Obesity
  • Respiratory disease

Depending on the underlying cause of your systemic periodontitis, this condition could behave like aggressive periodontitis, rapidly destroying your gum tissues.

Necrotizing Periodontitis

Necrotizing periodontitis is more likely to develop in people with systemic conditions that affect their immune system, including HIV and malnutrition. Necrosis occurs in the periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and gingival tissues.

Chronic Periodontitis

Inflammation within the tissues that support your teeth can cause severe gum recession and the development of periodontal or gum pockets. If you have chronic periodontitis, you will likely notice that some of your teeth appear longer than others, mainly due to gum recession.

Risk Factors Commonly Associated With Periodontal Disease

While this condition is more common among adults, it could also affect teenagers, and immediate treatment is key to preventing its progression. However, specific individuals are more prone to periodontal disease than others due to certain risk factors, such as:

Smoking

In addition to affecting the aesthetics of your smile, smoking or chewing tobacco products could increase your risk of developing periodontal disease. These are some of the habits you should discuss with your dentist during your initial appointment to help you prepare a treatment plan that will address the root cause of your oral health problem.

Poor Oral Hygiene Practices

Infrequent tooth brushing and flossing can allow harmful bacteria to accumulate, leading to plaque buildup and gum inflammation. While regular teeth brushing is one of the ways to stay on top of your dental health, you should learn the proper technique for brushing them correctly and effectively without injuring the gums or eroding your teeth's enamel.

Your dentist can guide you on the best way to brush your teeth to remove any plaque buildup on the surface of your teeth. Flossing your teeth at least once daily also helps remove food particles stuck in between your teeth, keeping cavities and gum disease at bay. Another critical oral care practice you cannot overlook is regular dental visits.

Scheduling regular appointments with your dentist allows him/her to monitor your oral health and conduct examinations that could point out issues you might not detect with your naked eye.

Systemic Conditions

Some Systemic health issues, including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular disease, have significant correlations with periodontitis, underscoring the significance of an integrated healthcare plan. If you have any of these systemic health issues, you should maintain regular communication with your dentist because they predispose you to periodontitis.

You Have Loose or Damaged Dental Restorations

Having a loose or damaged dental restoration can increase your risk of periodontal disease because it makes it challenging to clean your teeth effectively. Additionally, loose or damaged dental restorations or dentures can increase your risk of developing periodontal disease because they trap food particles, which bacteria can feast on, releasing acidic excretions that can irritate your gums.

Diagnostic Methods for Periodontal Disease

When you schedule your appointment with a dentist, he/she can diagnose the periodontal disease through any or all of the following ways:

  • Visual examination — Your dentist can determine whether you have periodontal disease through visual examination. During the visual examination, your dentist will check for visible symptoms of the condition, including red or bleeding gums
  • Using a dental probe — A dental probe is a special equipment that your dentist uses to measure the depth of your periodontal pocket (the space between your gums and teeth). If the periodontal pockets exceed 5 mm, you have periodontitis
  • X-rays — Digital imaging techniques, including X-rays, can help determine whether you have bone loss, which is a sign of advanced gum disease or periodontitis

In addition to conducting the above dental exams, your dentist will ask you about you and your family's medical history. Disclosing the correct information to your dentist can help him/her determine the root cause of your periodontal disease because some family-related illnesses could increase your risk of developing the condition.

Early detection of periodontal disease is key to treating and managing the condition effectively and reducing the need for comprehensive treatments.

Treatment Options for Periodontal Disease

Treatment for periodontal disease could involve both surgical and non-surgical procedures. The specific treatment your dentist or periodontist will recommend for your unique condition will depend on the following:

  • The stage and severity of your periodontal disease
  • Your commitment to home-based care tips and follow-up appointments
  • Your overall physical and oral health

A comprehensive periodontal examination can help determine the exact treatment you need to restore your gum health. Below are common non-surgical and surgical treatments your periodontist could recommend if you have periodontal disease, respectively:

Non-surgical Treatments

The first step to reversing periodontal disease is exploring non-surgical treatment options available. During its onset, periodontal disease is easily treatable and reversible using the following non-surgical treatment options:

1. Medications

Your dentist will prescribe an antibiotic to help kill the harmful bacteria and germs that cause inflammation and irritation of your gums (gingivitis). As long as you take the recommended medication as prescribed, this remedy can significantly improve the health of your gums.

2. Improved Oral Hygiene Practices

Sometimes, treating or reversing gingivitis may only require a strict, effective oral care routine. As mentioned in the previous sentence, the plaque that forms on the surface of your teeth and below your gumline is the main culprit for periodontal disease. Therefore, practicing an excellent oral and dental care routine, including regular teeth brushing, could go a long way in reversing this condition.

3. Scaling and Root Planing

Another helpful non-surgical treatment for reversing periodontal disease is scaling and root planing. To treat and prevent the progression of the bacterial infection, the dentist must remove plaque from the tooth surface and below the gumline. That is where scaling and root planing treatments come in. Scaling and root planing is what dentists refer to as a deep dental cleaning.

The difference between this procedure and the regular cleaning your dentist performs during your routine appointment is that the former goes below the gumline to remove the plaque and bacteria that can cause your gums to recede or pull away from the teeth. Your dentist could recommend a deep dental cleaning if you have periodontitis.

Surgical Treatments

When periodontal disease advances to a stage where the above treatments are insufficient or ineffective, your dentist could recommend surgical interventions. Depending on the severity of your unique condition, your dentist may recommend any of the following surgical treatments:

1. Pocket Reduction Surgery

Also known as flap surgery, pocket reduction surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that your dentist performs to reduce the depth of a periodontal pocket caused by bacterial infection. During the procedure, the dentist will remove any severely damaged tissue and bacteria from the periodontal pockets.

While it is a minimally invasive procedure, this surgery will require minor sutures to reattach your gums to their ideal position in the mouth.

2. Soft Tissue Graft Procedure

One of the most common symptoms of periodontal disease is gum recession. As your gums pull away from your teeth, your tooth roots will become revealed, making some of your teeth appear longer than others. During your flap surgery, the dentist will remove a tissue graft from the roof of your mouth or another source and use it to cover the exposed tooth roots and restore your gumline health.

In addition to affecting the aesthetics of your smile, oral infections have been linked to systemic health risks, causing other health conditions. That is why it is crucial to seek immediate treatment if you notice any symptoms of gum disease.

Benefits of Seeking Treatment for Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease treatment offers you various benefits that you cannot overlook if you want to stay on top of your oral and dental health. Examples of these benefits include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • It will relieve the pain and discomfort associated with periodontal diseases
  • Improved oral health
  • Improved breath and dental appearance
  • Helps prevent tooth loss and severe bone loss
  • Helps reduce your risk of developing other health conditions

Generally speaking, the key to preventing periodontal disease and other oral and dental health issues, including cavities, is maintaining an excellent oral care routine and scheduling frequent appointments with your dentist. Your dentist will recommend scheduling your routine appointment twice a year, or every 6 months.

Find an Experienced Periodontist Near Me

If you are looking for a seasoned dentist with modern equipment for diagnosing and treating oral and dental health issues, including periodontal diseases, you are in the right place. At Northridge Advanced Dentistry, we understand the impact of periodontal disease on your oral health and overall health.

We invite you to call our credible periodontists at 818-701-3010 if you or a loved one has periodontal disease.