The first sign of gum disease is bleeding when brushing or flossing your teeth. Gingivitis, the mildest and most common form of periodontitis, is caused by plaque toxins. Gingivitis can be easily reversed with a combination of home care and professional cleaning, which could include antibiotics and medicated mouthwashes. People most at risk for gingivitis are pregnant women, women who take birth control pills, people with uncontrolled diabetes, people who use steroids, and people who control seizures and blood pressure with medications.
The treatment here is similar to the treatment of chronic periodontal disease, but surgical intervention is more likely. Scraping, root smoothing, antimicrobial and laser procedures are some of the procedures that dentists will use to stop and treat this disease. Periodontal disease may sometimes not be the real problem, but rather a symptom of a different disease or condition that affects the entire body. This disease can act as an aggressive periodontal disease, as it rapidly destroys tissue.
Heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory diseases are the most common contributing problems, and to effectively treat this variation of periodontitis, the underlying medical condition must be managed. The progression in the mouth is stopped with the same treatments that are used to control aggressive and chronic periodontal disease. Everything you need to know about the stages of gum disease, how to recognize signs and symptoms, and understand the risks at each stage. When you think of gum disease, you may think of a condition, with a set of symptoms.
However, gum disease is actually a term that encompasses a whole range of diseases in the tissue surrounding the teeth. If you're worried that you might have gum disease, you're probably looking for answers. You may want to know how to recognize what stage you are in, what you can do to stop your progress, and what kind of professional help you should seek. The stages of gum disease are very different from each other, and treatment and management options vary.
The outlook for each stage also depends largely on how far you are allowed to progress. This series of articles by periodontists specializing in periodontics at EO Perio will give you all the information you need to understand gum disease at every stage. Basically, there are two different “types” of gum disease. The word gingivitis can be divided into “gingiva” and “itis”.
The gums are the gums and “itis” is a Latin term for inflammation. Therefore, the term gingivitis literally means inflammation of the gums. Since you can't see the inside of your mouth, especially when it's full of toothpaste, to detect plaque, cleaning your teeth properly isn't as easy as you might think. Most people need a little training to do it well.
Most people have a little bit of gingivitis somewhere in their mouth. The most serious type, called a “subgingival stone,” forms under the gum and is black in color. It can't be seen and can be difficult to detect, even for a dentist. Therefore, it is very difficult to completely eliminate it.
It is black because of the presence of blood when the gums are inflamed. A black subgingival stone usually means that you have one of the most serious types of gum disease. Read more about this in the next section. The symptoms of gingivitis can be easy to ignore, as the condition is usually painless.
All too often, people chalk it up to brushing too hard. However, bleeding gums are a warning sign that should never be ignored. Gingivitis is the only stage of gum disease that can be reversed. Good oral hygiene at home and regular checkups and cleanings will help prevent it, and your dentist or periodontist can help you treat it and get your gums back to full health.
Once gum disease has reached this stage, it cannot be reversed, but it can be treated by a specialized periodontist and dental health team. The treatment of initial periodontal disease begins with training to improve the technique of dental cleaning and deep cleaning, known as debridement. Debridement is an intensive procedure that eliminates bacteria and stones from the gums and tooth roots. Without treatment for initial periodontitis, your condition will progress to stage 2: moderate periodontitis.
The main difference between initial and moderate periodontitis is the amount of damage to the ligaments or joints between the root of the tooth and its socket. Initial periodontitis is when the damage is only minor, almost undetectable. Moderate periodontitis should be more obvious to your dental team because there is more damage, which is unfortunately permanent. If your gum disease has reached this stage, you're unlikely to feel pain.
However, you may notice bad breath, bad taste, and your teeth may look longer because your gums have retracted. You may also notice that your teeth move or loosen. The way they fit together when you bite can change. Biting your teeth can cause pain, and sometimes people have localized swellings or abscesses with pus, which are often painful.
Right now, all treatment options, including periodontal surgery, are being offered to manage the condition. You may already be at a point where some teeth cannot be saved and need to be replaced with dentures or dental implants. However, a periodontist can help you find the most appropriate treatment option for you and will give you the best chance of saving the most teeth. Periodontists are specialists in gum disease and can sometimes see possibilities that general dentists can't.
It can't be reversed, but it can be managed. With the help of your periodontist and often other dental specialists, such as prosthodontists and orthodontists, it's possible to stabilize gum disease even at this late stage. People usually consider removing all of their teeth when stage 4 is reached to replace them with dental implants. The problem is that dental implants can also get gum disease.
Implants with gum disease are much more difficult to treat and more expensive. We've seen numerous cases of people having all their teeth replaced with implants (often overseas) just to have the same problem. We highly recommend consulting a specialist periodontist before taking this step. Once teeth are removed, they cannot be replaced.
Grade B: progresses moderately If detected early enough, gum disease can be completely reversed. However, people who have periodontitis must monitor it for the rest of their lives. Signs and symptoms are difficult to spot in the early days of gum disease, so it's crucial to visit the dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. And if you see any signs, such as bleeding gums, that doesn't improve, book an appointment with a specialist periodontist right away.
Below, we'll highlight some of the major stages of periodontal disease and the signs and symptoms of each stage. Keep in mind that the rate at which periodontal disease progresses may be different for each person, and what is true for one person may not necessarily be true for another. Read below to learn what to consider when it comes to periodontitis. Once gingivitis (the first stage of periodontal disease) has been diagnosed, your dentist will tell you that you should start prioritizing proper brushing and flossing.
Signs of gingivitis include plaque buildup that can cause gum irritation and swelling. There may also be a white discharge called exudate and the gums may bleed more than usual. Other symptoms of gingivitis include receding gums and persistent bad breath. When you visit the dentist regularly, periodontal disease and symptoms can be easily detected and controlled.
A good dentist will watch for these signs and will help ensure that the disease doesn't progress. Of course, part of the responsibility will fall on you and will largely depend on your aftercare and your own oral hygiene. Always follow your dentist's instructions for the best results and for a clean and healthy mouth. Periodontitis is the name of the most advanced periodontal disease, and if allowed to progress to this point, not only are the gums affected, but the bone structures that support the teeth will also be compromised.
The early warning signs of periodontal disease include pain and tenderness in the mouth, the periodontal pockets, and the spaces between the teeth. Preventing periodontal disease is about creating healthy hygiene habits when it comes to brushing your teeth, flossing, and getting regular dental checkups. Periodontal disease is mainly caused by poor oral hygiene habits and by not brushing your teeth, flossing and cleaning your teeth. Diabetes & Periodontal Disease Diabetes and periodontal disease are chronic inflammatory diseases that affect the health of millions of people.
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