Periodontal Disease: Your Teeth and Gums at Risk

Brushing and flossing your teeth primarily removes any excess food particles that might have lodged inside the difficult-to-reach corners of the mouth, but that is not their only purpose. These oral hygiene habits are also intended to remove harmful plaque that can destroy both teeth and gums. While it is a given that plaque can cause dental cavities, its effect on gums is lesser known, although just as health threatening.

Plaque that is allowed to proliferate among teeth can aggravate the effects of gingivitis; a common periodontal disease that manifests as an inflammation of the gums. This inflammation causes the patient’s gums to feel tender and be susceptible to bleeding after brushing or flossing. Gingivitis is reversible, fortunately, but patients who still cannot address their periodontal problems can risk the permanent loss of their teeth.

Unresolved gingivitis typically leads to periodontitis; a condition where the alveolar bone near the afflicted teeth progressively deteriorates until the teeth loosen and fall off. In worse cases, the deterioration continues until it irreversibly decreases the bone density of the patient’s jaw. Regular brushing and flossing, as well as treatments from a general dentists, are advised in order to prevent periodontitis and save both teeth and gums.