Periodontal disease is one of the most common ailments affecting adults in America.  Recent studies show that 80% of the American adult population has or has suffered from periodontal disease.  Poor oral hygiene is the number one cause of periodontal disease.  As you know, plaque, the sticky substance formed by the food particles that gets left behind on teeth and the waste product of bacteria, provides a good breeding place for bacteria.  If left unremoved, it could harden into tartar which could irritate the gums even further and cause infection on the gum tissues surrounding teeth.  Depending on the severity of your gum disease, the dentist may administer intrusive or topical periodontitis treatment.  The early stage is often easier to treat, however, they are often the hardest to detect.  But you can be able to stop periodontal disease dead on its tracks early on by knowing the different stages and their symptoms.

The first stage of periodontal disease is Gingivitis.  This is characterized by red and swollen gums which are often painless.  Most of the time, gingivitis is hardly noticeable unless one takes a good look at one’s gums or see blood on his or her toothbrush.  If you suspect that you have gingivitis, take a pocket mirror and look at your gums closely.  Healthy gums are pinkish in hue and are rippled in comparison to inflamed gums which are red, plump and smooth.  They are also tender to touch.  If you are able to catch them early on, you can treat them by maintaining good oral health practices and using antibacterial toothbrush and mouthwash to kill off bacteria and boost healing.

If gingivitis is left untreated, it then develops into periodontitis.  This is when the tartar buildup starts to reach beneath the gum line, creating a gap between the tooth and the gums.  As bacteria produce toxins, it could wear down the bone and gum tissue that support the teeth and cause it to become loose or give your teeth an elongated look.  If this is left untreated, an individual with periodontitis could risk losing his or her teeth at an early age.  However, as periodontitis is also at times, painless, most individuals with this gum disease won’t realize this until it is too late.  Most individuals with periodontitis often spend hundreds of dollars in expensive periodontitis treatment and operations.

It is often easy to confuse gingivitis with periodontitis as both have similar symptoms.  However, periodontitis is often accompanied by itching or some discomfort on the gums.  The more sever cases of periodontitis are often identified by the elongated teeth or receding gum line as it is often referred to.  That is why if you notice the tell-tale sign of gingivitis, it is important to see a dentist right away as he or she is the only one who could properly diagnose your gum infection and administer the right treatment.  Apart from checking up with the dentist, maintaining good dental health rituals can help reverse or at least slow down the debilitating effects of periodontal diseases.