Most people have heard of gum disease, but do you really know what it is or how it can progress? The actual name for gum disease is periodontal disease, and it affects not just the gums but also the bone beneath the gums. Here’s what you need to know about periodontal disease and how it can affect you.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is a condition in which the gums begin to recede and become inflamed. If left unchecked, the disease can penetrate below the gum into the bone, resulting in bone loss of the jaw beneath the teeth. Periodontal disease can be treated in a variety of ways depending on the severity and stage of the condition.
How It Affects You
If you have periodontal disease and it goes untreated for a year or more, it could affect you in a number of ways. Primarily, if your gums recede and bone loss begins, the teeth will begin to loosen and you risk losing several of your teeth. If you do lose teeth, it could affect your oral health in the form of increased oral infections and poor nutrition.
Periodontal disease also makes it difficult to replace missing teeth. If you have periodontal disease, it is unwise to get a dental appliance to replace missing teeth because they will need to be adjusted again and again as more gum tissue and bone is lost. Periodontal disease must be treated first. If periodontal disease leads to bone loss, you may need a bone graft before getting dental implants, if that is your option.
If you have experienced red and irritated gums that may bleed during brushing and flossing, you need to see us right away for treatment of periodontal disease before it has a chance to progress. Contact us today for more information or to schedule your appointment.
