Periodontal Disease

Gum disease can take several forms. All are initiated by bacteria that cause infection and destroy gums, bone, and ligaments supporting the teeth. Periodontal disease is often painless and might have no overt symptoms. It can progress slowly or rapidly and is a serious dental health problem in the U.S., afflicting 9 out of 10 people over the course of a lifetime.

Warning Signs:

• Bleeding gums when you brush
• Red, swollen, tender gums
• Gums that pull away from the teeth or pus appearing near the gumline
• Chronic bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
• Teeth that change position or no longer fit together when you bite
• Change in the fit of partial dentures
  
  How Periodontal Disease Develops:
  1. Normal healthy gums help anchor teeth in place.
  2. Gingivitis develops when bacteria in the plaque produce byproducts irritating to the gums, making them tender, inflamed, and likely to bleed.
  3. Periodontitis develops when plaque hardens into tartar. Gums begin to recede from teeth and pockets form between teeth and gums.
  4. Advanced periodontitis occurs when gums recede and bones or ligaments are destroyed. Loose teeth may need to be extracted.