Periodontitis, also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. Periodontitis can cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss.
What Causes Periodontitis?
Bacteria in the mouth infect tissue surrounding the tooth, causing inflammation around the tooth leading to periodontal disease. When bacteria stay on the teeth long enough, they form a film called plaque, which eventually hardens to tartar, also called calculus. Tartar build-up can spread below the gum line, which makes the teeth harder to clean. Then, only a dental health professional can remove the tartar and stop the periodontal disease process.
Other Factors can contribute to periodontal disease. These include:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Poor oral hygiene
- Stress
- Heredity
- Crooked teeth
- Underlying immune-deficiencies—e.g., AIDS
- Fillings that have become defective
- Taking medications that cause dry mouth
- Bridges that no longer fit properly
- Female hormonal changes, such as with pregnancy or the use of oral contraceptives
Symptoms:
Healthy gums are firm and pale pink and fit snugly around teeth. Signs and symptoms of periodontitis can include:
- Swollen or puffy gums.
- Bright red, dusky red or purplish gums.
- Gums that feel tender when touched.
- Gums that bleed easily.
- Pink-tinged toothbrush after brushing.
- Spitting out blood when brushing or flossing your teeth.
- Bad breath.
- Pus between your teeth and gums.
- Loose teeth or loss of teeth.
- Painful chewing.
- New spaces developing between your teeth.
- Gums that pull away from your teeth (recede), making your teeth look longer than normal.
- A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite.
When to see a dentist?
Follow your dentist’s recommended schedule for regular check-ups. If you notice any symptoms of periodontitis, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. The sooner you seek care, the better your chances of reversing damage from periodontitis.
We at Teeth Care Centre have the best Periodontist in Ahmedabad who are well experienced and aim to provide quality treatments. We use equipment from most eminent brands which render excellent results. We even perform Laser using BIOLASE which is one of the best brands in the world.