One of the most typical dental health issues in adults is gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. An individual can get this disease at any age. This type of disease usually evolves gradually with very little symptoms or pain; there are times where a patient may not realize that they have the disease until it’s too late and teeth need to be removed due to damage to the bone and gum. Gum disease is preventable; it can also be treated if it’s caught in time.
Normally gum disease is initiated with plaque that is not cleaned off the teeth on a daily basis by brushing & flossing. This plaque turns into a hard deposit named tartar, also known as calculus. The first stage of gum disease is called gingivitis, which in inflammation in the gums. Most common signs of Gingivitis are, amongst others, redness and bleeding gums; these are the first signs showing that you are in the early stages of gum disease. Your gums may also be swollen and the colour may have changed but at this point you may still not have pain; this is where you’ll notice bleeding from your gums while brushing and/or flossing. If you do not treat gum disease, you will slowly notice that your teeth may become loose.
At the initial point, there are hardly any symptoms for gum disease, other than those listed above. Your dentist will check for signs of gum disease at every dental check up. A device called “periodontal probe’ will be used by your dentist or dental hygienist to check the area where your teeth connect to your gums. If your gums are healthy, the dentist will notice that your gums meet your teeth just below the edge of the gum, however if your gums meet your teeth lower than this mark, it means that you have pockets around your teeth and are probably showing signs of more advanced gum disease called Periodontitris. Your dentist may need to take X-rays to check the bone level around your teeth since in moderate to advanced Periodontitis there are considerable amounts of bone loos around your teeth and that’s what causes your teeth to become loose.
The dental hygienist can help you get rid of plaque and tartar at early stages so that your gums can become healthy again and signs of gum disease can be eliminated.
The information provided is for general information purposes only and not intended to replace professional care. Please consult your physician or dentist for advice and diagnosis so you can be properly treated for your specific situation.
