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General Dental Information and Education Page
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Gum Disease Gum Disease or periodontal disease is when the gums start pulling away or receding from the teeth. This can eventually lead to bone loss and then tooth loss. The gums start receding when plaque and calculus build up around the base of the teeth. Plaque will build up daily on teeth and this build up can be controlled by regular daily brushing and flossing. As this plaque builds up overtime it hardens and becomes calculus. Studies show that mouth rinses are effective at inhibiting plaque build-up, but not removing it. Built-up plaque and calculus can only be removed by professional cleaning. Regular cleaning by a dentist or hygienist will, with proper daily brushing and flossing, prevent periodontal disease.
Symptoms
Periodontal disease progresses through three stages; gingivitis, periodontitis and advanced periodontitis. Gingivitis can usually be successfully treated by improved dental hygiene (brushing and flossing) and twice annual visits to a dental office for a professional cleaning. Untreated gingivitis will progress into periodontitis.
Periodontitis can only be treated in a dental office. In the early stages periodontal procedures like a Scaling and Root Plane and Periodontal Maintance will usually successfully treat or cure the problem. In the advanced stages periodontal surgery is needed to successfully treat the disease. In the advanced stages some gums and teeth may already be to badly damaged to save. The following graphics show the different stages of periodontal disease. The American Dental Society has an online video about periodontal disease, click here.
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