Health

How Does Periodontitis Develop?

Periodontitis is a serious infection of the gum which can destroy the soft tissues of the gum and may progress to damage the underlying bone. Periodontitis is commonly known as gum disease and it can make your teeth loose and they may start falling out. You can prevent gum disease by practicing good oral hygiene and having your teeth checked by a dentist regularly.

If untreated, periodontitis can cause the spread of the infection from the mouth to other body systems like the heart and the respiratory system and this may be life-threatening. To avoid these complications the infection can be treated at Around the Corner Dental Health Spa with medications or surgery. Management of periodontitis depends on the severity of your infection.

What Are the Symptoms of Periodontitis?

When you have periodontitis, your gums become swollen and puffy and they are tender to touch. The color of the gums changes from pale pink to bright red, dark red, or purple. Brushing your teeth can cause the gums to bleed and you can notice a change in the color of your toothbrush after brushing. When you are flossing or brushing your teeth, you will spit blood.

The infection may cause you to get pus in your gums and your mouth will have bad breath. The gum infection makes your teeth become loose because they lack enough support from the gum and the underlying bone. Having loose teeth makes you feel pain when you are chewing food and sometimes you may be unable to chew anything at all.

Infection of the gums makes them recede and this makes your teeth appear as if they are longer than usual. You can also develop spaces between your teeth and this changes the way your teeth fit to bite food. Complications of periodontitis include coronary artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and respiratory diseases.

You are at a high risk of getting Periodontitis if you don’t maintain good oral hygiene, if you smoke, or suffer from some diseases like diabetes. Obesity, nutritional deficiency, hormonal imbalance, and medications that dry your mouth can increase your risk of getting periodontitis. Immunosuppression due to HIV or cancer can make you develop gum disease. Some people are genetically predisposed to gum diseases.

How Periodontitis Develops

Periodontitis begins when plaque forms in your mouth due to sugary foods and poor oral hygiene. Bacteria are attracted to the plaque.  The plaque hardens to form tartar or calculus which attracts bacteria and is hard to remove from the tooth. The longer the calculus stays on your tooth, the higher your risk of gum disease, and the calculus can only be removed by professional dental cleaning but not by regular brushing.

The plaque causes a mild form of gum disease called gingivitis due to the inflammation of the gum at the base of the tooth. Gingivitis can be treated easily by a dentist but if it is not treated, the inflammation can extend to cause plaque, bacteria, and calculi filled pockets between your teeth and gums. This can extend to cause infection of the surrounding soft tissue and the underlying bone. Periodontitis can compromise your body immunity.

Conclusion

Periodontitis is a serious gum disease that affects the soft tissues and bone in the mouth and if it is untreated, it can cause complications like heart disease. When you develop pain, swelling, or other signs of infection in your mouth you should see https://elite-dentistry.net/cosmetic-dentistry-austin/ before the problem progresses and becomes complicated.

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