Gum Disease (Gingivitis & Periodontitis): Symptoms, Causes

Periodontitis, also generally called gum disease or periodontal disease, begins with bacterial growth in your mouth and may end -- if not ... MenuMedicalReferenceFeaturesSlideshows&ImagesWebMDAnswersQuizzesHealthToolsNewsArchiveNewsReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosQuestions&AnswersTeethandGumsOtherOralProblemsDentalCareBasicsTreatments&SurgeryResources&ToolsBadBreathDryMouthHealthyMouthEvaluatorMouthSoresOrthodonticsSignsofGumDiseaseTeethGrindingTemporomandibularDisorders(TMD)ToothDecayMoreRelatedTopicsOralCareGuideMenuMedicallyReviewedbyEvanFrisbee, DMDonJuly30,2021InthisArticleWhat'stheDifferenceBetweenGingivitisandPeriodontitis?WhatCausesGumDisease?WhatAretheSymptomsofGumDisease?HowDoesMyDentistDiagnoseGumDisease?HowIsGumDiseaseTreated?HowCanGumDiseaseBePrevented?IsGumDiseaseLinkedtoOtherHealthProblems?Periodontitis,alsogenerallycalledgumdiseaseorperiodontaldisease,beginswithbacterialgrowthinyourmouthandmayend--ifnotproperlytreated--withtoothlossduetodestructionofthetissuethatsurroundsyourteeth.What'stheDifferenceBetweenGingivitisandPeriodontitis?Gingivitis(guminflammation)usuallyhappensbeforeperiodontitis(gumdisease).Butnotallgingivitisleadstoperiodontitis.Mostpeoplegetgingivitisatsomepointintheirlives,anditsmildsymptomsmakeiteasytoignore.Butwithouttreatment,itcanturnintobiggerproblemsforyourmouth.Thegoodnewsisthatyoucanpreventorevenreverseitbysimplybrushingyourteeth,flossing,andhavingregulardentalcleaningsandcheckups.Intheearlystageofgingivitis,bacteriainplaquebuildup,causingthegumstobecomeinflamedandtoeasilybleedduringtoothbrushing.Althoughthegumsmaybeirritated,theteetharestillfirmlyplantedintheirsockets.Noirreversibleboneorothertissuedamagehasoccurredatthisstage.Whenyouforgettobrush,floss,andrinsewithmouthwash,astickyfilmofbacteriaandfoodcalledplaquebuildsuparoundyourteeth.Thegunkreleasesacidsthatattackyourteeth’soutershell,calledenamel,andcausedecay.After72hours,plaquehardensintotartar,whichformsalongthegumlineandmakesithardtocleanyourteethandgumscompletely.Overtime,thisbuildupirritatesandinflamesyourgums,causinggingivitis.Inapersonwithperiodontitis,theinnerlayerofthegumandbonepullawayfromtheteethandformpockets.Thesesmallspacesbetweenteethandgumscollectdebrisandcanbecomeinfected.Thebody'simmunesystemfightsthebacteriaastheplaquespreadsandgrowsbelowthegumline.Toxinsorpoisons--producedbythebacteriainplaqueaswellasthebody's"good"enzymesinvolvedinfightinginfections--starttobreakdowntheboneandconnectivetissuethatholdteethinplace.Asthediseaseprogresses,thepocketsdeepenandmoregumtissueandbonearedestroyed.Whenthishappens,teetharenolongeranchoredinplace,theybecomeloose,andtoothlossoccurs.Gumdiseaseistheleadingcauseoftoothlossinadults.WhatCausesGumDisease?Plaqueistheprimarycauseofgumdisease.However,otherfactorscancontributetoperiodontaldisease.Theseinclude:Hormonalchanges,suchasthoseoccurringduringpregnancy,puberty,menopause,andmonthlymenstruation,makegumsmoresensitive,whichmakesiteasierforgingivitistodevelop.Illnessesmayaffecttheconditionofyourgums.ThisincludesdiseasessuchascancerorHIVthatinterferewiththeimmunesystem.Becausediabetesaffectsthebody'sabilitytousebloodsugar,patientswiththisdiseaseareathigherriskofdevelopinginfections,includingperiodontaldiseaseandcavities.Medicationscanaffectoralhealth,becausesomelessentheflowofsaliva,whichhasaprotectiveeffectonteethandgums.Somedrugs,suchastheanticonvulsantmedicationDilantinandtheanti-anginadrugProcardiaandAdalat,cancauseabnormalgrowthofgumtissue.Badhabitssuchassmokingmakeitharderforgumtissuetorepairitself.Poororalhygienehabitssuchasnotbrushingandflossingonadailybasis,makeiteasierforgingivitistodevelop.Familyhistoryofdentaldiseasecanbeacontributingfactorforthedevelopmentofgingivitis. WhatAretheSymptomsofGumDisease?Gumdiseasemayprogresspainlessly,producingfewobvioussigns,eveninthelatestagesofthedisease.Althoughthesymptomsofperiodontaldiseaseoftenaresubtle,theconditionisnotentirelywithoutwarningsigns.Certainsymptomsmaypointtosomeformofthedisease.Thesymptomsofgumdiseaseinclude:GumsthatbleedduringandaftertoothbrushingRed,swollen gums.Healthygumsshouldbepinkandfirm.PersistentbadbreathorbadtasteinthemouthRecedinggumsFormationofdeeppocketsbetweenteethandgumsLooseorshiftingteethChangesinthewayteethfittogetheruponbitingdown,orinthefitofpartialdenturesEvenifyoudon'tnoticeanysymptoms,youmaystillhavesomedegreeofgumdisease.Insomepeople,gumdiseasemayaffectonlycertainteeth,suchasthemolars.Onlyadentistoraperiodontistcanrecognizeanddeterminetheprogressionofgumdisease.HowDoesMyDentistDiagnoseGumDisease?Duringadentalexam,yourdentisttypicallychecksforthesethings:Gumbleeding,swelling,firmness,andpocketdepth(thespacebetweenthegumandtooth;thelargeranddeeperthepocket,themoreseverethedisease)TeethmovementandsensitivityandproperteethalignmentYourjawbone,tohelpdetectthebreakdownofbonesurroundingyourteethHowIsGumDiseaseTreated?Thegoalsofgumdiseasetreatmentaretopromotereattachmentofhealthygumstoteeth;reduceswelling,thedepthofpockets,andtheriskofinfection;andtostopdiseaseprogression.Treatmentoptionsdependonthestageofdisease,howyoumayhaverespondedtoearliertreatments,andyouroverallhealth.Optionsrangefromnonsurgicaltherapiesthatcontrolbacterialgrowthtosurgerytorestoresupportivetissues.AfulldescriptionofthevarioustreatmentoptionsisprovidedinGumDiseaseTreatments.HowCanGumDiseaseBePrevented?Gingivitiscanbereversedandgumdiseasecanbekeptfromgettingworseinnearlyallcaseswhenproperplaquecontrolispracticed.Properplaquecontrolconsistsofprofessionalcleaningsatleasttwiceayearanddailybrushingandflossing.  Brushyourteethtwiceaday.Useasoft-bristledbrushandfluoridetoothpaste.Replaceyourtoothbrushevery3months,orsoonerifthebristlesbecomefrayed.Old,worn-outoneswon'tcleanteethaswell.Brushinggetsridofplaqueonthesurfacesoftheteeththatcanbereached. Flossingremovesfoodparticlesandplaquefrominbetweentheteethandunderthegumline.Flosseveryday.Don’twaituntilsomethinggetsstuckbetweenyourteeth.Dailyflossinggetsplaqueoutofplacesyourtoothbrushcan'treach.Youcanalsotryinterdentalcleaners,picks,orsmallbrushesthatfitinbetweenteeth.Askyourdentisthowtousethemsoyoudon'tdamageyourgums.Rinseyourmouth.Antibacterialmouthwashnotonlypreventsgingivitis,itfightsbadbreathandplaque.Antibacterialrinsescanreducebacteriathatcauseplaqueandgumdisease,accordingtotheAmericanDentalAssociation.Askyourdentistwhichmouthwashwouldworkbestforyou.Otherhealthandlifestylechangescancuttheriskofgumdisease,lessenhowsevereitis,andslowhowfastitdevelops.Theyinclude:Stopsmoking.Notonlyissmokingbadforyourheartandlungs,itcanharmyourteethandgums.Smokersareseventimesmorelikelytogetgumdiseasethannonsmokers,andsmokingcanlowerthechancesofsuccessofsometreatments. Reducestress.Stressmaymakeithardforyourbody'simmunesystemtofightoffinfection.Maintainabalanceddiet.Bacteriainyourmouthfeedonsugarsandstarchesfromfood,fuelingthemtoreleasetheacidsthatattacktoothenamel.Junkfoodandcandyhavealotofextrasugarandstarch.Avoidthemtokeepyourteethandgumshealthy.Propernutritionhelpsyourimmunesystemfightinfection.Eatingfoodswithantioxidants--forexample,thosecontainingvitaminE(vegetableoils,nuts,greenleafyvegetables)andvitaminC(citrusfruits,broccoli,potatoes)--canhelpyourbodyrepairdamagedtissue.Avoidclenchingandgrindingyourteeth.Theseactionsmayputexcessforceonthesupportingtissuesoftheteethandcouldincreasetherateatwhichthesetissuesaredestroyed.Despitefollowinggoodoralhygienepracticesandmakingotherhealthylifestylechoices,theAmericanAcademyofPeriodontologysaysthatupto30%ofAmericansmaybemorelikelytogetgumdiseasebecauseoftheirgenes.Andthosewhoaregeneticallypredisposedmaybeuptosixtimesmorelikelytogetsomeformofgumdisease.Ifanyoneinyourfamilyhasgumdisease,itmaymeanthatyouareatgreaterriskaswell.Ifyouaremorelikelytohavegumdisease,yourdentistorperiodontistmayrecommendmorefrequentcheckups,cleanings,andtreatmentstobettermanagethecondition.Ifit'sbeen6monthssinceyoulastsawthedentist,setupacleaningtoremovetartarandplaquebuildupfromyourteeth.Askyourdentistabouttheproperwaytobrush.Bearingdowntoohardormissingspotscanleadtogingivitis.Afteracleaning,yourgumsshouldgetbetterwithinaweekorsoaslongasyoubrushtwiceaday,andflossandrinseonceaday.IsGumDiseaseLinkedtoOtherHealthProblems?AccordingtotheCDC,researchershaveuncoveredpotentiallinksbetweengumdiseaseandotherserioushealthconditions.Inpeoplewithhealthyimmunesystems,thebacteriainthemouththatmakesitswayintothebloodstreamisusuallyharmless.Butundercertaincircumstances,thesemicroorganismsareassociatedwithhealthproblemssuchasstrokeandheartdisease.Diabetesisnotonlyariskfactorforgumdisease,butgumdiseasemaymakediabetesworse.  NextArticleRecedingGumsOralCareGuideTeethandGumsOtherOralProblemsDentalCareBasicsTreatments&SurgeryResources&ToolsAt-HomeToothWhitening:WhatWorks?WhatIsaWaterpik?WhattoExpectataDentistVisitWhat'sCausingYourJawPain?[ss_icon]15ToothProblems:Cavities,StainedTeeth,HyperdontiaandMoreDoYouNeedaRootCanal?17OralHealth&MouthProblemsOralHealthEvaluator-TaketheWebMDOralHealthEvaluationGumDiseaseSymptomsandHeartDiseaseTheHealthPerilsofGumDiseasePeriodontalDiseaseandHeartHealthFightToothandNailAgainstGumDiseasePregnancyGingivitisandPregnancyTumorsGingivitisTopicsTongueProblemsSores,discoloration,bumpsandmore.GetWhiterTeeth10secretstoabrightersmile.CosmeticDentistryBeforeandafter.GetRidofCankerSoresTipsandhometreatment.SlideshowWhat'sCausingYourDryMouth?QuizJawPain:CheckYourTMDKnowledgeVideoHowtoTreataToothacheSlideshowYourBreathandYourHealthSlideshowWhatIsTMJ?Article5TipsforPreventingPlaqueToolHowHealthyIsYourMouth?VideoHowtoWhitenYourTeeth9TipsforFreshBreathRemediesforDryMouth17CommonMouthProblemsHabitsThatWreckYourTeethSecretstoWhiterTeethYourMouthandYourHealthHealthSolutionsPenisCurvedWhenErect?CouldIhaveCAD?TreatBentFingersTreatHR+,HER2-MBCTiredofDandruff?BenefitsofCBDRethinkMSTreatmentAFib-RelatedStrokesRiskofaFutureDVT/PEIsMyPenisNormal?RelapsingMSOptionsLiverTransplantsSaveLivesFinancePlasticSurgeryBentFingerCausesLivingWithPsoriasis?MissingTeeth?MorefromWebMD5TipstoHelpWithRelapsingMSHowtoThriveWithNarcolepsyReliefforBlockedHairFolliclesPsoriaticArthritisandYourSleepWhatPsoriasisFeelsLikeFirstPsoriaticArthritisFlareTalkingtoYourDoctorAboutRACrohn's:A'Full-Body'DiseaseAvoidingCrohn’sFlaresHealthBenefitsofHe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