The Major Types of Gum Disease
It is vital to brush, floss and see your dentist regularly. If you don’t practice regular dental care, you open yourself up to a barrage of oral diseases and complications. Lets Look now at some of the major Gum Diseases that are common and the problems they can cause:
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the mildest and most common form of Gum Disease. It causes gums to become swollen, bleed often times. Gingivitis is most often caused by lack of dental care. Over 50% of adults will have Gingivitis. The good news is Gingivitis is treatable and reversible with Professional Dental care.
While most cases are attributed to bad oral hygiene there could be an underlying cause such as diabetes, smoking, aging, genetic predisposition, systemic diseases and conditions, stress, inadequate nutrition, puberty, hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, substance abuse, HIV infection, and certain medication uses. If you develop Gingivitis of course visit your Dentist, but it may be a good idea to get a full physical as well just to be on the safe side.
Periodontitis
Untreated Gingivitis can evolve into Periodontitis a far more serious condition of the gums. In time untreated dental hygiene will cause tooth tartar will develop into plaque. Plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins can cause the gums to inflame and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are at risk of being destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, form pockets that are prone to infection. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this process can become lead to teeth that may have to be removed.
There are many forms of periodontitis. The most common ones include the following.
- Aggressive periodontitis - This can occur in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. Common features include rapid attachment loss and bone deterioration.
- Chronic periodontitis - Results in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive attachment and bone loss. This is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis and is characterized by pocket formation. It is prevalent in adults, but can occur at any age. Progression of attachment loss usually occurs slowly, but can rapidly increase causing high risk of tooth loss.
- Systemic diseases caused Periodontitis - This will mostly begin at a young age. Systemic conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes are associated with this form of the disease. This should be treated by a pediatric dentist.
- Periodontal disease cause by chronic illness - This infection characterized as “necrosis” of gingival tissues. These can be described as pockets or lesions that within the mouth that can be caused by conditions such as HIV, malnutrition and immunosuppression. If you feel this may match your symptoms of Gum Disease see your dentist and General Practitioner immediately.
