Almost half of the adult population in the United States, including those residing in Illinois, is suffering some kind of gum disease. Gum disease may not look alarming in the initial days, but if you don’t treat it timely, it can lead to several dental issues and can even result in tooth loss.
One must not ignore the signs of periodontal disease and contact an expert dentist in Schaumburg, Illinois, as soon as possible. Timely diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease can save you from a lot of pain, discomfort, and trouble.
Periodontal disease risk factors
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is the medical condition of inflammation and infection in the tissues around your teeth. Although anyone who doesn’t maintain good oral hygiene can get a periodontal disease, the following factors can substantially increase the chances of getting it.
- Tobacco consumption and smoking
- Poorly maintained oral hygiene
- Diabetes
- Lupus, Crohn’s disease, scleroderma, and other autoimmune diseases
- Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause.
- Stress and other mental conditions
- Heart diseases
- Genetics
But how do you tell if an oral condition could be a sign of periodontal disease? Following are telltale signs of a periodontal disease.
- Bleeding and soreness in gums
- Red to purple colored gums
- Bad breath
- Pain while chewing
- Experiencing unpleasant taste
- Gums pulling away from your teeth (gum recession)
- Loose teeth
- A change in the positions of the teeth
Irrespective of risk factors, the most significant cause of periodontal disease is dental plaque. Dental plaque, commonly caused due to inadequate oral hygiene, may contain several bacteria that can infect your gums and even damage your teeth.
Different stages of periodontal disease
If you leave a periodontal disease untreated, it can spread deep down and can even destroy your jawbone, which can potentially lead to tooth loss. However, it doesn’t happen overnight. The disease progresses gradually through the following four stages.
- Gingivitis: Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease where one may experience puffy, red gums that may bleed while brushing or flossing. The infection at this stage is mostly superficial and can be quickly reversed with proper treatment.
- Mild periodontitis: At this stage, the bacteria reach beneath your gums and start affecting the supporting bone. Mild periodontitis will cause your gums to pull away from your teeth and create pockets around them, creating ideal space for the bacteria and plaque.
- Moderate periodontitis: If you ignore periodontitis at the above two stages, the bacteria may begin to penetrate the bone and soft tissues that hold your teeth in place. You’ll have a bad breath, and the infection will cause pus around the gumline.
- Advanced periodontitis: This is the final stage of periodontitis. With worsening disease, the bone loss will continue to increase, which will cause your teeth to become loose and fall out, eventually.
Exploring the treatments for periodontal disease
Depending on your condition, the periodontist may choose either nonsurgical or surgical treatment for the periodontitis.
Nonsurgical treatment
Initial stages of periodontitis are curable with less invasive procedures.
- Antibiotics: Dentists may prescribe antibiotics to curb the infection and provide antibiotic mouth rinses or gels to kill the bacteria.
- Scaling: Scaling can remove the plaque and hidden bacteria below your gum line.
- Root planing: Root planing can prevent the buildup of plaque and bacteria by smoothing the root surface and helping your teeth to attach to your gums again.
Surgical treatment
Following surgical treatments can help patients who have advanced periodontitis.
- Flap surgery: Flap or pocket reduction surgery involves cutting in your gums, reshaping your bone, and stitching gum tissues back in place after removing plaque and bacteria.
- Soft tissue grafts: A small amount of soft tissue is taken from the roof of your mouth and attached around the affected area to cover exposed roots and reduce gum loss.
- Bone grafts: Bone grafts are used to repair the destroyed bone around your tooth so that your tooth remains in place.
- The dentists also use tissue-stimulating proteins and guided tissue generation techniques to allow the tooth enamel and bones to regrow.
Final thoughts
Despite being dangerous, periodontitis is entirely. Moreover, if detected timely, dentists can also save your teeth from damage and loss. Therefore, always select an experienced dentist for effective periodontal treatments.
