Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth?
Are your teeth sensitive or have your gums receded and exposed your tooth roots? Then gum disease or periodontal treatment could be the option for you!!
Periodontal or gum disease is an infection that affects the tissues and bone that supports the teeth. Healthy gum tissue fits like a cuff around each tooth and when a patient has periodontal disease, the gum tissue pulls away from the tooth. As the disease worsens the tissue and bone that support the tooth are destroyed. Over time teeth may fall out or need to be removed. Treating periodontal disease in the early stages can help prevent tooth loss.
The most common types of gum disease are:
- • Gingivitis: Surface inflammation; caculus builds up on teeth and gums are inflamed (red)
- • Periodontitis: Deeper inflammation and more serious; inflammation cause gums to separate from tooth forming pockets, early to moderate bone loss.
- • Advanced Periodontitis: Severe bone loss, deep pockets. Tooth is in danger of failing out.
For most people you would not be aware that you have gum disease unless you regularly visit your dentist. There are some signs to watch out for such as bleeding gums, bad breath, sensitive teeth or loose teeth.
Gum disease or periodontal treatments require deep cleaning and on-going care. The deep cleaning needs to be done by a periodontist and will be done in quadrants per jaw.