What you need to know about gum disease
There is no dearth of people suffering from one or the other form of gum disease. Gum disease, also known as periodontitis or periodontal disease, begins with bacterial growth in the mouth, typically, caused by poor brushing and flossing habits. If left unattended for long, gum disease affects the tissue surrounding the teeth causing bleeding gums, teeth loss, and pain while chewing.

Here is some information about the causes of gum disease, its symptoms, and more.

What are the risk factors for gum disease?
A number of factors can cause gum disease, mainly, poor dental hygiene. Poor oral hygiene, such as not brushing the teeth regularly, can lead to the building of plaque. Apart from poor dental hygiene, various other factors increase the risk of developing gum disease. These include:

• Smoking
• Age
• Family history
• A weakened immune system
• Diabetes
• Stress
• Malnutrition

What are the symptoms of gum disease?
Healthy gums are pink, firm, and keep the teeth secured in their place. Gums must not bleed when touched or while brushing. Gum disease is not always accompanied by pain; therefore, it is essential to have regular dental check-ups. Some of the common symptoms of gum disease are:

• Early symptoms- The early symptoms of gum disease are red and swollen gums. Also, brushing and flossing of teeth that cause bleeding of gums is an early symptom to be aware of.
• Advanced symptoms- Halitosis (bad breath), loose teeth that make eating difficult, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, and gum abscess (collection of pus that develops under the gums or the teeth).

What are the three stages of gum disease?
To know the stage of gum disease is of paramount importance for proper diagnosis and treatment. The three stages of gum disease are:

• Gingivitis – The first stage of gum disease, gingivitis is characterized by the inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup. Gum disease at this stage is easy to reverse, as it has not affected the bone and connective tissue yet.
• Periodontitis – The second stage that occurs if gingivitis is left undiagnosed and untreated is periodontitis. It is a little advanced because the supporting bone and fibers holding teeth are damaged. The plaque builds up below the gum line through the pockets formed by gums because of this condition. Improved personal hygiene and professional periodontal therapy help prevent further damage to the gum tissue and bone.
• Advanced periodontitis – This stage of gum disease loosens teeth and even makes them shift. Those suffering from this stage of gum disease have trouble in biting and communicating.

How is gum disease diagnosed?

• If the gums are painful, swollen, and are bleeding when brushing or flossing the teeth, it is time to visit a dentist.
• The dentist will conduct a dental examination to check the health of the gums. I
• In certain cases, the dentist might need X-rays to check the condition of the jaw bone and the teeth.

How is gum disease treated?
Practicing good oral hygiene is the ideal way to treat a gum disease. However, additional medical and dental treatments are sometimes necessary. Below are some treatment options for treating gum disease:

• Oral hygiene – Brushing the teeth twice a day for about two minutes using a toothpaste having the right amount of fluoride helps in protecting the teeth against decay as well from gum disease. Flossing the teeth before brushing them every day is important. Apart from this quitting to smoke and going for routine dental check-ups can go a long way.
• Dental treatments – If suffering from gum disease, some of the dental treatments would include scaling and polishing to remove plaque and root planning.
• Medications – The dentist may also prescribe antibiotics and painkillers for a gum disease.