What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal (gum) disease is a progressive condition that gradually invades your gums. Because it is typically painless in its early stages (gingivitis), it can easily evolve to an advanced stage before you become aware of any problems.
Plaque can buildup on your teeth and along your gum line, then it will harden into hard, porous deposits called tartar or calculus. Pockets form between the teeth and irritated gums, and bacteria collect here, which can lead to other health problems such as cardiovascular disease. Once hardened, only your dentist will have the tools to remove plaque.
In the later stages, periodontal disease can cause loss of bone structure and deterioration of gums, eventually leading to tooth loss. In fact, gum disease is one of the most common causes of tooth loss in adults.
For this reason, it is important to remove the plaque from your teeth every day by brushing and flossing as well as going to the dentist for regular dental hygiene appointments are key for prevention – and for maintaining your oral health.
How to prevent periodontal disease?
There are also some less obvious tips that may help you avoid gum disease or reduce your risk of getting it. You may want to:
Take inventory of your medications - Certain medications can contribute to and aggravate gum disease, including antidepressants, heart medicines and oral contraceptives.
Increase your consumption of vitamins A and C - These are part of a healthy diet that can help prevent periodontitis. Conversely, cut sugary and starchy foods, which allow plaque to build.
Have dental issues treated quickly - Correct dental problems or oral health issues such as teeth grinding, misaligned or crowded teeth. It can be more challenging to properly clean teeth that aren’t properly spaced, thus providing room for plaque to grow and thrive.
Gently massage your gums - Along with brushing and flossing regularly (at least twice a day for two minutes each time for brushing, and once daily for thorough flossing), show your gums some love by gently massaging them, which increases blood flow to the tissue.
Use fluoride toothpaste - This key ingredient removes the buildup of plaque bacteria along the gum line without irritating gums.
Quit smoking - Smoking is not only strongly associated with the onset of gum disease, it makes it more difficult for your gums to heal if they've been damaged because smoking weakens the immune system.
Know your risks - Whether genetics, diet, age, smoking or other factors make you more susceptible to periodontitis, knowledge is power when it comes to reducing your risk and staying healthy.
Ask your dentist about periodontal disease treatment - The earlier your dentist can detect periodontitis (if you do get it), the better. That's because it's easier to treat gum disease in its earlier stages than when it has advanced to the point that you start to lose teeth or jaw bone tissue. Depending on how far the disease has progressed and its severity, there are surgical and non-surgical options for treatment.
Regular oral hygiene - Good oral hygiene can help reduce your personal risk factors. It will go a long way in the fight to prevent gum disease. Our gums are as important as our teeth when it comes to our oral health, so it’s important not to neglect them.