What Is Periodontal Disease?

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Google “periodontal disease.” Of course, you see information on symptoms, treatments, prevention, etc. You will also see information on “kissing with bleeding gums!” If that sounds as awful to you as it does to me, you may want to educate yourself.

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So, what exactly is periodontal disease?

It is an infection of the tissue in your gums, that keep your teeth securely in place. Over time, plaque builds up around the teeth and hardens due to poor brushing and flossing properly. The hardened plaque damages the gums and eventually the bone below the tissue. 

Periodontal disease does not just appear one day. If you are guilty of not brushing and flossing properly, or as often as you should, you may want to be on the lookout for the first signs of the disease. Those may include:

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• Swollen gums
• Gums become a dark red color, instead of a healthy pink
• Sensitivity in the teeth or gum area
• Receding gums
• Cysts full of puss
• Loose teeth
• New gaps in your teeth 
• Blood in the sink after brushing
• Shrinking gums
• Bad breath
  

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Surprisingly, periodontal disease can affect more than just your teeth.

If left untreated, kidney, blood, and pancreas cancer could develop. Diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s can also be caused or worsened by periodontal disease. 

If you are starting to see the early stages of periodontal disease, contact your dentist immediately. A good deep cleaning, especially under the gum line, is the first step to protecting your mouth. 

Dentists can insert an oral antibiotic into your gums or spread over your gums after the deep cleaning for further treatment. Gum grafts and other surgery may also be the path you need to take to correct the damage.

If your teeth have started to fall out due to the disease, you may need to consider full mouth dental implants. Losing permanent teeth can cause damage to the jawbone. If this is the case, you may need to have bone grafts with your full mouth dental implants. Nuvia includes ridge preservation grafts with their installation of permanent teeth in 24 hours.

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We all want healthy gums and teeth

To prevent periodontal disease be sure to floss and brush regularly. Make sure you are using proper toothpaste and mouthwash. And remember to get professional cleanings every six months. 

Your oral health is more important than you may realize. Take the time each day to save yourself from facing periodontal disease. We do not want you to experience kissing with bleeding gums. That does not sound fun to anyone.

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