Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is inflammation within the gums. This inflammation allows bacteria to invade the bone that surrounds and holds your teeth in. It's not simply about losing gum; it's about losing the underlying support. Once this support is lost, the eventual loss of teeth is possible.
The early stages of gum disease can be subtle. You might start off with just a little bit of bleeding, which many people mistakenly think is normal. However, gums should not bleed. Another early sign is bad breath. In the final stages, teeth may start to loosen. These symptoms can affect your overall body health.
If you suspect you have gum disease, it's crucial to seek treatment. The first step we take is to perform an evaluation, a periodontal evaluation, to ensure your gums are healthy.
A common misconception is believing that a visit to the dentist only involves a cleaning. However, if you're experiencing symptoms like bleeding, bad breath, inflammation, and loss of bone, these issues need to be addressed and treated, not merely cleaned.
If gum disease is not promptly and regularly treated, the bone loss doesn't reverse. While we can't bring back lost bone, we can maintain it at its current level. Therefore, it's important to have regular check-ups to monitor and manage the disease.