What is Gum Disease?

Your gums support your teeth and protect them, and the overall health of your mouth. Having healthy gums is extremely important for the stability of the teeth, prevention against infections, and for preventing gum disease. Gum disease is very common and, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss and other health problems throughout your body.

What are the main gum diseases?

In general, there are two main gum diseases, which can be differentiated to some extent.

Gingivitis

The first and one of the main gum diseases is gingivitis. This is an initial stage of gum disease, with the main symptoms being red and irritated gums, bleeding, bad taste in your mouth, persistent bad breath, and even pus between the teeth.

Treatment for gingivitis is actually considered prophylaxis, or preventative, as it involves cleaning to remove tartar. However, if it is more advanced, scaling and root planing may be necessary.

Because gingivitis is a milder form of gum disease, if diagnosed and treated quickly, there is little risk of long-term complications.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is an inflammatory gum disease in its more advanced stages and is one of the main causes of tooth loss. It can develop from uncontrolled gingivitis, hormonal factors, or genetic predisposition.

There are several levels of periodontitis based on the extent of bone loss and the depth of the periodontal pockets, such as:

- Mild or early periodontitis

- Moderate periodontitis

- Advanced periodontitis

- Advanced periodontitis with tooth mobility

In addition, they are also distinguished from specific types based on clinical and pathological characteristics. From this classification, we have:

- Chronic periodontitis

- Aggressive periodontitis

- Necrotizing periodontitis

What can cause gum disease?

In addition to understanding symptoms, it is essential to educate you about the possible causes of gum disease. Therefore, people with diseases that are related to gum problems or who have habits that are considered risk factors for periodontal disease should be careful.

Some examples of habits and other diseases are:

- Poor oral hygiene: The accumulation of bacterial plaque is one of the main causes of gum disease, and poor hygiene can encourage this buildup.

- Smoking: Tobacco negatively affects oral health and reduces the body's ability to fight infections.

- Inadequate diet: diets rich in sugar and poor in essential nutrients favor the appearance of infections.

- Bruxism: Excessive pressure on the gums from grinding your teeth can contribute to gum disease.

- Autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, AIDS, lupus, and psoriasis: Patients with autoimmune diseases are considered at risk for gum disease, as the immune alteration makes them more vulnerable to bacterial infections.

- Hormonal changes: In phases of life that involve hormonal changes, such as puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, the gums become more sensitive and susceptible to diseases.

Gum disease, though common, is not something for which you should wait to see a dentist. If left untreated, it can cause multiple unpleasant symptoms, as well as compromise your overall oral and physical health; painful inflammation is just the beginning. If you are experiencing symptoms of gum disease, such as bleeding gums, pain when brushing, or chronic bad breath, please make an appointment with us today for a full examination. We’re here to help!

Related: What Are Some Gum Disease Treatments?