What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is an infection caused by plaque that starts as gingivitis in the gums. Without treatment, the bacteria can spread to the surrounding tissue and cause severe damage to the teeth and jaws, leading to deterioration and tooth loss.
Periodontitis causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, creating pockets for more bacteria to infiltrate, resulting in a vicious cycle.
The predominant symptoms of periodontal disease are bleeding and swollen gums. Often with gingivitis, you see blood when you brush your teeth. You may also notice a receding gum line and persistent bad breath. As the disease progresses, you might notice loose teeth.
Why is it Important to Treat Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease can lead to a variety of dental problems, such as tooth loss, and contribute to major health problems throughout the body. Gum disease is linked to:
- Increased risk of heart disease and stroke
- Worsened lung conditions
- Premature birth and low birth weight in pregnant women
- Worsened blood sugar control for diabetics
- Increased cancer risk
- Exacerbated rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
The inflammation and bacteria associated with periodontal disease lead to problems elsewhere. The inflammation contributes to the hardening of the arteries and arthritic flare-ups. Likewise, the bacteria in the gums can travel to the lungs and cause pneumonia and other lung problems.
It’s vital to take care of periodontal disease before it destroys the body. Periodontal disease is treatable, and your dentist can stop its progression.
What Periodontal Treatments are Available?
Dr. Bryce Holmes offers several periodontal treatments to heal your gums, including:
- Professional dental cleanings
- Scaling and root planing: deep cleaning below the gumline and smoothing rough spots
- Debridement: infected tissue removal
- Dental implants
- Antibiotics and antimicrobial treatments
Most of the time, scaling and planing are enough to treat periodontal disease. More extensive cases of gum disease may require surgical treatments to restore gum tissue.
Stop the progression of periodontal disease by making an appointment with the dentists at Sunrise Dental.