Periodontitis refers to disease effecting the surrounding bone, gum, and soft tissues surrounding teeth. Periodontitis are a “silent” disease since early stages are often asymptomatic and painless. Most people aren’t aware they have periodontal disease until the destruction is already in the advanced stages!
When plaque and debris around teeth builds up overtime, the soft tissue around the teeth will become inflamed. If no treatment was done to remove the plaque and debris, then the destruction will eventually affect the surrounding bone, causing bone loss and eventual loosening of the teeth.
Besides bone loss and loosening of the teeth, research suggests that there may be a link between periodontitis and other systemic diseases such as: stroke, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and increased risk during pregnancy.
Other activities such as smoking also increases the risk of periodontal disease.
The easiest way to prevent periodontal disease is to come to Breeze Dental for your routine dental exam and dental cleaning. Let us maintain the periodontal health for you and your family!
Periodontal disease signs and symptoms:
- Bleeding gums – This is an indication that you may have gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gum. If the gum is healthy, it should not bleed!
- Teeth mobility – This is usually the outcome if the surrounding bone have been affected by periodontal disease.
- New spaces formed between teeth – This usually occurs when teeth are loosening and has started to move apart due to bone loss.
- Bad breath and odor – Most common cause is bacterial infection.
- Pus around teeth and gum – This usually indicates advance periodontal disease and immediate treatment should be considered.
- Redness around the gum – Healthy gum should not be red or bleed. Redness around the gum usually indicates there are infection within the gum.