What Is Periodontal Disease And How Can It Be Prevented?

Diligent oral care is equally important for the health of both gums and teeth. Inflamed or infected gum tissue can occur, and if left untreated, it can eventually cause damage to the underlying jawbone that supports the teeth. Teeth are left vulnerable and can become loose. What started as a minor inflammation ends with tooth loss.

What Is Periodontal Disease?

You should tell your dentist if you experience any of these symptoms. At the dentist's office, your hygienist will check the pocket depth between the gums and teeth. A deep pocket is a classic symptom of developing gum disease.

• Redness or swelling of the gums.
• Gums that bleed when you brush your teeth.
• Gum sensitivity.
• Recession of the gum tissue.
• Pus at the gum line.
  
• Bad breath or a persistent bad taste in your mouth.

How Do I Treat Periodontal Disease?

The worse your gum disease becomes, the more invasive the treatment is likely to be. To avoid surgery, practice prevention.

• Root planing and scaling. According to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), this is a deep cleaning that removes plaque and tartar under the gum line. It may be performed under local anesthetic.
• Gum surgery. WebMD describes surgical procedures used to repair damage caused by infection. Procedures include a gingivectomy to remove infected tissue, a flap procedure to clean below the gumline to remove bacterial infection and scale the tooth roots in cases of periodontal pockets greater than 5 millimeters, and gum grafting for cases of recessed tissue.
  
• Regenerative procedures. These types of treatment are used to reverse bone and tissue damage. According to the AAP, your periodontist will open the affected area to remove infection from under the gum tissue. He will then place a bone graft, membranes (filters) or tissue-stimulating proteins that will encourage the bone and tissue to regenerate.

How Do I Prevent Periodontal Disease?

What is periodontal disease's greatest enemy? Regular oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing remove plaque and food particles from your mouth and massage the gums; the latter increases blood flow to the tissue. Thorough brushing is essential. Be sure to brush for 2 minutes, and clean all tooth surfaces. Your dentist can recommend a toothbrush and demonstrate proper flossing procedure.

Regular visits to the dentist are vital to gum disease prevention. Your dentist will evaluate your gums and other oral tissues each time you are in the office. Measuring the pockets around your teeth will allow him to detect early warning signs of gum disease.

Taking care of your gums is as important to the long-term health of your mouth as taking care of your teeth. In fact, adults lose their teeth mostly as a result of gum disease. If you keep close track of your oral health and practice regular oral hygiene, you will be much less likely to suffer this unpleasant fate.