What is gum disease?
Bacteria constantly form a sticky film on our teeth known as plaque. If left, plaque may build up on and between the teeth. This can affect one tooth or several teeth. The collection of bacteria irritates the gums and causes them to become swollen - allowing a space or ‘pocket’ to form beneath the tooth. As the amount of bacteria increases, so does the depth of the pocket, which can cause the gums to recede. If left untreated, the pocket can become so large that teeth become loose and may have to be removed.The infection causes the gums to weaken and bleed easily when you floss, brush your teeth or bite into hard foods. There is usually little or no pain and, because of this, many people ignore the early warning signs. A healthy gum should not bleed at all, much like any other part of your body.
There are two main forms of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums. This is when the gums around the teeth become very red and swollen. Often the swollen gums bleed when they are brushed during cleaning.
Long-standing gingivitis can develop into severe gingivitis or periodontitis. As the disease progresses, plaque destroys the soft tissue and the bone anchoring the teeth, making the tooth loose in its socket. If this is not treated, the tooth may eventually fall out or need to be removed. In fact, more teeth are lost through periodontitis than through tooth decay.
