Preventing gum disease

Keeping your teeth clean and cavity-free doesn’t mean you have healthy gums, either. Since it’s painless, you may not even know whether there are any problems with your gums.

Severe Gum infection affects around 19% of the adult population, with more than one billion cases worldwide. According to American Dental Association (ADA), gum diseases like Gingivitis and Periodontitis are the major causes of tooth loss in adults.

Types Of Gum Diseases

There are generally four types of gum diseases that can affect overall oral health and cause discomfort while eating and speaking.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a gum disease that is considered to most commonly cause inflammation of gums, which is found in over 50% of adult U.S. population. Early signs of gum disease (Gingivitis) are bleeding, swelling, and redness in the gums.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis exhibits signs similar to Gingivitis, except for loss of tissue and jawbone. The damage of periodontitis is particularly concerning because the loss of gum tissue and bone cannot be recovered.

Untreated Periodontitis results in teeth loss, and it can sometimes increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other health problems.

Periodontitis is caused due to bacterial infection that affects gums and tissues. It is a chronic Periodontal disease that is triggered by bacterial microorganisms and involves severe chronic inflammation, leading to the destruction of the teeth’ supporting apparatus.

Gum Recession

Gum recession is a common adult gum problem in which the root of the tooth is exposed, and the gum line pulls away from its original place. This could be a result of gum disease, as the jawbone that surrounds the teeth is lost.

Gum Abscess

Another gum problem is gum abscess, also known as periodontal abscess. It causes symptoms like a blister or a bump in the gum containing pus. It is caused by a bacterial infection in the deep gum, causing pain and swelling.

Oral Cancer

A less common periodontal disease is oral cancer, which can occur in all soft tissues within the mouth. It may appear as a red or white patch or a sore on the gums that does not heal.

Causes Of Periodontal Diseases

Gum inflammation or periodontal disease is primarily caused by plaque formation, a sticky layer of bacteria on the teeth and gums that leads to infection.

Plaque – It forms when bacteria in the mouth feed on sugars and starches from food particles, creating a sticky film on the teeth.

Tartar – Plaque that isn’t removed through regular brushing and flossing hardens and becomes tartar, which is a harder substance that can be removed by a dentist.

Irritation – Plaque and tartar irritate the gum tissues, causing gum inflammation and infection that can lead to Pyorrhea.

Dental Treatments For Serious Gum Disease

Periodontal treatment depends on your dental health and the stage of the serious gum disease.

Neurological Treatments –

• Professional Dental Cleaning

During your dental checkup, a dentist will remove the tartar from your teeth, which can only be removed through professional dental cleaning.

If you have Gingival disease symptoms, you may be recommended for professional dental cleaning more than twice a year. It is not a treatment, but it is a preventative measure for Periodontal disease.

• Scaling And Root Planing

It is a process of deep cleaning done under a local anesthetic in which plaque and tartar are scraped away (scaling) from the surface of your teeth and gums, which hardens and leads to Periodontal disease.

The rough surfaces of the teeth are made smooth (planing). It provides a clean surface on the teeth that allows your gums to reattach.

Surgical Treatments –

Your dentist may recommend you undergo Gingival disease surgery if the tissues around your teeth can’t be repaired and neurological treatment is not enough for your oral condition.

• Flap Surgery

During this treatment, your gums are lifted back to remove tartar, and the irregular surfaces of the bone are smoothed out to limit areas where bacteria usually hide. Your gums are then placed to fit around your tooth, which reduces the space between your gum and tooth.

• Bone Grafting

In this procedure, dentists use fragments of your own bones, synthetic or donated bones, to replace them with damaged teeth bones due to Gingival disease. Bone grafts serve as a platform for the regrowth of bone, which ensures stability to your teeth.

• Soft Tissue Grafts

It reinforces thin gums and fills the gaps where your gums have receded due to Gingival disease. Grafted tissue is most often taken from the roof of your mouth and stitched into place to add tissue to your affected area.

• Bone Surgery

In this process, a dentist smoothest out shallow craters in your bone caused due to bone loss. After surgery, the bone around your tooth is reshaped to prevent bacteria from collecting and growing on your teeth.

What Are The Common Risk Factors For Periodontal Problems

Some of the most common risk factors contributing to periodontal diseases are –

Poor Oral Hygiene

Neglecting proper cleaning of teeth and tongue and not flossing regularly allows plaque and tartar to accumulate, which increases the risk of Periodontal disease.

Smoking

Regular smoking weakens a person’s immune system and reduces the ability to fight against infections, putting individuals at higher risk of Gingival disease.

Systemic Diseases

Certain medical conditions, especially diabetes, can increase the risk of gum disease. Using certain medications can cause dry mouth, which increases the risk of Gingival disease.

Diet

Diets that are rich in sugar and high in carbohydrates can contribute to plaque formation, which can lead to Gum infection.

Keys To Preventing Gum Disease

In order to preventing gum disease, you must follow these things regularly –

• Brush your teeth twice a day
• Floss regularly
• Don’t forget to clean your tongue
• Use an antibacterial mouthwash
• Replace your toothbrush regularly
• Regular checkups and cleanings

Final Thoughts

Most gum problems are preventable and can be controlled if the early signs of gum disease are addressed. For individuals with genetic gum disease, it can be a lifelong effort to preventing gum disease, and to keep the condition in check.

The Secret To A Winning Smile Is Oral Care

Referral Site – 

[CDC] February 24, 2025  Smoking, Gum Disease, and Tooth Loss