Know How Gum Disease Happens and How You Can Resist It

By Steven Barefoot, DDS

If your gums bleed a lot when you brush or floss, you may have gum disease (also called periodontal disease). Gum disease is swelling and infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. 

Plaque, the sticky film that forms on teeth, causes periodontal disease, says the American Dental Association (ADA). There may be no signs with early gum disease, which is often painless at first. Yet gum disease is a major reason for tooth loss in adults. So, if you are concerned, see your dentist. The sooner you treat periodontal disease, the better your results will be. 

Risk Factors and Symptoms of Periodontal Disease 

If your gums bleed easily, or if they’re red, swollen and/or sensitive, you may have periodontal disease. Other common signs are:

• gums that pull back from your teeth
• bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth that won’t go away
• loose teeth
• teeth that separate from each other
• teeth that no longer fit together when you bite down
• any change in the fit of partial dentures

The risk of developing gum disease goes up with:

• poor oral hygiene habits
• smoking or chewing tobacco
• a family history of periodontal disease
• crooked teeth that are hard to keep clean
• pregnancy
• diabetes

Also, some medicine can make it easier for gum disease to develop. But that doesn’t mean you should stop taking the medicine. Instead, give your oral health a little more tender loving care with regular brushing and flossing. Tell your dentist if you take steroids, some anti-epilepsy medication, cancer therapy drugs, certain calcium channel blockers, or oral birth control. You can also check with your physician. Remember, not all of these medications make gum disease more likely. That’s why it’s important to check with your dentist. 

Stages and Treatment of Gum Disease 

1. Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease. Typical signs are gums that are red, swollen and bleed easily. 
2. Periodontitis is the advanced form of gum disease. Going without treatment can lead to the loss of tissue and bone that support your teeth. These problems can get worse over time. Then your teeth will feel loose and start moving around. This is the most common form of periodontitis in adults but can occur at any age. 
3. Aggressive periodontitis causes fast loss of tissue and bone. It can involve just one part of your mouth or your whole mouth.  

With early gingivitis, there is no loss to the bone. You can reverse  gingivitis at this stage with a dental cleaning and improved oral hygiene “This conservative approach gets rid of harmful oral bacteria before the disease has a chance to progress,” the Cleveland Clinic says. Positive oral health habits include brushing twice a day, flossing daily and regular visits to your dentist for exams and cleanings.

A visit to the dentist or periodontist can still help, even for gum disease that was untreated for a while. At first, you may get plaque and the hard deposits called calculus or tartar removed below the gumline. Also, a dental professional can smooth the surface of any exposed root. This will help your gum tissue to re-attach where it should be, says the International Dental Journal (IDJ). For more advanced periodontal disease, the IDJ recommends surgical therapy. If you have extreme tissue loss, regular maintenance visits will help your oral health. 

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