Gum Disease

Periodontitis, or gum disease, is a serious disease that can affect anyone. Periodontitis can be divided into two categories: gingivitis, which affects the soft tissue of the gums, and periodontitis, which can affect the surrounding bone.

Gingivitis

In the early stage, a sticky layer of plaque forms around the gum line. Bacteria from the plaque irritates the gum and causes the gum to become red and swollen. Bleeding can occur even with minor irritation caused by a toothbrush or dental floss.
Plaque around the gum that is not removed will harden to become calculus (tartar) which is impossible to remove with a toothbrush.

Periodontitis

If left untreated, gingivitis will progress to become periodontitis. Periodontitis occurs when bacteria reaches the surrounding bone. When irritated, the bone will start to shrink away from the tooth, leaving a gap where more bacteria can infiltrate.
Continued shrinkage can cause the tooth to eventually fall out.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

Healthy gums should be firm and pink with no blood present when you brush or floss your teeth. Your breath should also be fresh.

Gum Disease Symptoms include:

Risks

There are several factors that can increase your risk of gum disease. These include:

How to Prevent Gum Disease

Gum disease is a serious disease but there are measures you can take to prevent it:

Treatment

There are several ways to treat gum disease depending on the severity of the problem. These can include:
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