Did you know that severe periodontal disease currently affects around 19% of the world’s population even though the disease is preventable in majority of cases? Periodontitis is a serious infection that can have detrimental effects if it is not addressed properly. It occurs in the tissue surrounding your gums, causing them to recede from the teeth and ultimately leading to tooth loss. Fortunately, your dentist Liverpool has the power to prevent this from occurring through extensive preventative methods and their expert care.
What is periodontitis?
Periodontitis can be classified as the final stage of gum disease; it is an infection that attacks the soft tissue located around your teeth. When the infection is not addressed, the infection can lead to a destruction of the bone that supports your teeth ultimately leading to tooth loss. Before periodontitis develops into its most advanced stages, you may experience the more manageable symptoms of gingivitis which is the first stage of the disease.
What are the main stages of periodontitis?
Periodontitis can typically be categorised into two main stages:
Gingivitis – Gingivitis is the initial stage of periodontitis and can be described as inflammation of the gums. The primary and most common sign of gingivitis is bleeding gums when you brush and floss your teeth. You may also notice significant discolouration of your teeth which is caused by the establishment and build-up of plaque; plaque can build up due to inadequate oral hygiene and so allowing food particles and debris to gradually build up on the outer surfaces of your teeth. As gingivitis progresses, you may notice your gums beginning to recede causing small pockets to form between your gums and teeth; this makes way for harmful bacteria to multiply in these pockets thus causing recurring infection and can potentially cause some bone loss. At this stage of the infection, gingivitis is easy to manage and prevent from worsening through actively improving your oral hygiene and getting your teeth professionally cleaned by your dentist or hygienist to remove the plaque and tartar from your teeth.
Moderate periodontal disease – when gingivitis is left untreated and therefore to progress, you may experience more bleeding and pain around the teeth and some gum recession may also occur. You may also notice that your teeth are becoming slightly loose due to a loss in bone support as prolonged exposure to the infection will continue to affect the bone that supports your teeth, causing it to erode. It is essential that you seek urgent dental care at this stage if you haven’t already done so as neglecting the symptoms could have irreversible effects.
Advanced periodontal disease – When periodontitis reaches its most progressive stage, the connective tissue that is accountable for holding your teeth in place begins to decline and your gums and bones are destroyed. This can cause you to experience difficulties in doing basic every day tasks such as chewing and the inability to bite hard foods and you may also find these tasks painful. Additionally, you may begin to suffer from severely bad breath (halitosis) and in the final stages, loss of teeth.
What causes periodontitis?
The main cause of periodontitis is poor oral hygiene which is why it is more common in poverty-struck countries. Your mouth contains a plethora of bacteria which is usually harmless; however when you don’t clean your teeth thoroughly, the bacteria come into contact with food particles and begin to build up on your teeth to form a sticky film known as plaque. Another common cause of periodontitis is smoking; it is especially important to note that smoking will not only increase your risk of developing periodontitis but it may also interfere with how your body responds to treatment for the infection. Other risk factors for periodontitis include poor diet, autoimmune diseases such as HIV and AIDS and hormonal changes in women.
What are the signs and symptoms of periodontitis?
Periodontitis can be detected in its earliest stages, and the earlier it is detected the easier it is to treat the infection so it is important to always look out for any signs so that they may be addressed promptly. Common signs to look out for include:
- Bleeding gums
- Loose teeth
- Changes in the positioning of your teeth
- Red and swollen gums
- A build-up of plaque or tartar on the surfaces of your teeth
- Pain when chewing or biting food
- Bad breath
Your dentist is trained to detect periodontitis in its earliest stages, therefore it is imperative that you keep up to date with regular visits to the dentists so that any possible signs can be detected and treated straight away to prevent the disease from progressing.
