Periodontal Disease Stages and Treatments: A Closer Look
Periodontal disease is something that affects a surprising amount of people. In Australia, it’s estimated that almost 23% of people over the age of 15 suffer from some form of this condition. If you’ve never heard of periodontal disease before, perhaps you’re more familiar with it by another name: gum disease.
When it comes to oral care, the health of the gums is sometimes overlooked in favour of the teeth, but when left unattended, the results can be quite serious. This article will take you through different types of periodontal disease, the different periodontal disease stages, and what you can do to fight and prevent this condition. Read on for a rundown on how to give your gums the very best dental care.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease refers to an infection of the tissues that hold the teeth in place. In most cases, it’s caused by poorly control mouth bacteria: oral hygiene habits form a critical role in the beginning and advancement of periodontal disease. Failure to brush and floss properly would be two of the most common causes.
While the severity of the periodontal disease varies from case to case, when severe, it can have unwanted results. Periodontal disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults.
How Do You Know If You Have It?
There are some symptoms you can look out for if you’re worried about the health of your gums. Bleeding after you brush or floss is a big one. You may also notice your gums being swollen or tender, sores in your mouth, bad breath, or receding gums.
In more severe cases you may notice pus coming from between your gums, your teeth coming loose, or a change to the bite of your mouth. If you do notice any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to get in touch with your dental care provider immediately.
Periodontal Disease Stages
There are different and distinct stages of advancement that periodontal disease follows. The first, and least severe is known as gingivitis, this is first caused by bacteria that had built up in the teeth. If you feel as though you may have gingivitis, you can go to your dentist to have a cleaning and plaque removal, to ensure the condition doesn’t worsen.
The next stage of periodontal disease is known as periodontitis, and this stage is broken up into three further categories: early, moderate, and advanced periodontitis. During early periodontititis, the gums become inflamed and begin to pull away from the teeth, forming pockets. This stage is also marked by the beginning of bone loss: bone in the jaws begin shrinkage due to the prolonged and well developed inflammatory process present in the gums. Food becomes trapped in these pockets, which can cause infection.
In the moderate stage, gums become more inflamed, and gums can begin to recede further and bone loss can become severe enough to produce mobility or looseness of teeth. In advanced periodontitis, abscesses begin to form on the gums, and tooth loss can occur.
Seeking Care With the Best Dentist Available
Are you worried that you may be suffering from any sort of gum issue? If so, it’s best to see a dentist straight away. A comprehensive gum assessment will be the first step in the path to arresting gum disease and promoting good periodontal health.
Lack of appropriate periodontal treatment leads to more advanced periodontal disease stages. If you’re looking for an experienced and skilled dentist in Bondi, get in touch today, we’d be happy to help.