What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease also known as "Periodontitis" is usually caused by bacterial infection which may cause tooth loss if not treated in early stage.
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Gingivitis is in inflammation of the gum tissues that surround and support the teeth. Bacteria form plaque on the teeth surface. If this plaque is not cleaned by brushing and flossing, it forms a very hard layer called tartar. This tartar or calculus can only be removed with professional dental cleaning.
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Periodontal means the structures surrounding and supporting the teeth so periodontitis is an infection of the bone below the gums.
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Causes of Gum Disease
Along with plaque, other factors may contribute to gum disease:
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Bad Habits: Chewing tobacco or smoking won't allow gum tissues to heal itself.
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Poor Oral Hygiene: Brushing twice a day & regular flossing if ignored can lead to bacterial infection causing gingivitis.
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Hormonal Changes: Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy or menopause can make gum tissue sensitive and may further cause gingivitis.
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Illness: Diseases such as HIV or Cancer can affect immune system. Diabetic patients are at high risk of developing periodontal disease.
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Position of Teeth: Crooked or overlapping teeth provide more area for plaque to form.
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Medication: Some medication can interfere with the flow of saliva & can cause abnormal growth of gum tissue.
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Family History: Family history of periodontal disease can be a major factor in some cases to cause gingivitis.
Types of Gum Disease
1. Chronic Periodontitis
It is characterized by space formation & gum separated from teeth. It is most common in adults.
2. Aggressive Periodontitis
Rapid loss of gums & bone destruction are the symptoms found in this type of periodontitis.
3. Manifestation of Systematic Diseases
It is mainly associated with diabetes, respiratory disease & heart disease.
4. Necrotizing Periodontal Disease
Necrosis of gums, periodontal ligaments, alveolar bone are seen. Commonly found in the patients of HIV & malnutrition.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Symptoms that indicate gum disease are:
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Red, tender or swollen gums when touched.
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Bleeding of gums after brushing.
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Bad taste or bad breath in mouth.
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Shifting or lose tooth.
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Gums separated from teeth.
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Spitting out blood during brushing or flossing.
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Painful chewing.
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Gaps developing between teeth.
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Malocclusion (A change in teeth fitting together when you bite)
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Stress impairs immune response to bacterial infection.
Treatment Options for Gum Disease
Non-Surgical Treaments
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Professional dental cleaning: When plaque and tartar reach below the gum line of your teeth, they can cause cavities & gum disease. Only professional cleaning can remove such hard, deep deposits from your teeth.
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Scaling & Root Planing: Scaling is scraping away of calculus (hardened plaque & tartar) from above & below your gums. Planing is a procedure of smoothing the rough spots on the tooth root to remove bacteria. It provides a clean & smooth surface for the gums to reattach to your teeth.
Surgical Treatments
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Flap Surgery: This surgery reduces the gap between your teeth and gum to avoid bacterial growth. Once the tartar is removed through surgical cleaning, gums are lifted back & also the damaged bones are smoothed.
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Bone Grafts: Sometimes jaw deterioration occurs in periodontal disease. Here grafting replaces bone by fragments of your own bone or synthetic bone. This surgery supports bone re-growth & helps teeth to remain attached to the bone.
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Soft Tissue Grafts: Grafted tissues mostly taken from the roof of the mouth is placed in the space where the root of the tooth is exposed. Tissue grafting strengthens the gums & restores your teeth.
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Guided Tissue Re-Generation (GTR): Small piece of mesh-like material is inserted between the gum tissue & bone preventing the gum from gowning into bone space. It helps the connective tissue & bone to regenerate.
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Bone Surgery: Bone around the tooth is reshaped to smooth & reduce craters in the bone thus prevents accumulation & growth of bacteria.