As with any chronic condition, the earlier you seek therapy, the better your chances are of curing gum disease and improving your quality of life. You can live a full life if your gum disease is kept under control. If you don’t treat it you are at risk of bad breath, loose wobbly teeth and gum recession. This can affect your self-confidence and affect how you eat and speak.
Only a dentist or periodontist can tell you for sure that you have gum disease. Almost half of adults ages 30 and older have signs of gum disease. Gums are the tissues that surround your teeth and hold them in place.
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a common condition that affects the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. It is typically caused by poor oral hygiene habits that lead to the buildup of plaque on the teeth. While gum disease can have serious consequences if left untreated, it is possible to live a full life with this condition.
Effects of Gum Disease
Gum disease can have various effects on your oral health:
- Bad breath
- Bleeding gums
- Receding gums
- Tooth loss
While you can’t catch gum disease through brief casual contact, repeated and long-term contact through saliva (such as kissing) may increase your risk for periodontal disease. Almost half of all adults in the United States have some form of gum disease. The quickest way to get rid of gum disease is to develop and maintain a daily routine where you commit to your oral hygiene. The bleeding will stop and your gums will no longer be red, inflamed and swollen.
Here are the answers to some questions people often ask about periodontal disease. As the immune system responds to the buildup of tartar, bacterial toxins start destroying the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. Eventually, the teeth start becoming loose, and they may fall out. This is a reversible inflammation of the gums around the base of the teeth. These symptoms may indicate a need for urgent treatment or further investigation to rule out other causes, such as mouth cancer or an abscess. The immune system attacks bacteria as the plaque spreads below the gum line into the pockets.
Symptoms may include bad breath, loose teeth and bleeding, swollen gums. There are many treatments available, depending on the severity of disease. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, so it’s most treatable with non-surgical procedures such as scaling and root planing to remove all bacteria from the gums and root of the tooth. Combined with proper oral hygiene, gingivitis can be reversed. Periodontal disease is the most advanced form of gum disease and develops when bacteria and plaque multiply on the teeth and gums. This buildup leads to an infection and inflammation of the delicate gum tissue.
Participants’ dissatisfaction with treatment was due to receiving insufficient explanations of dental conditions, undergoing obligatory tooth extractions, and lacking education on dental maintenance. These elements caused them to doubt dentists and led them to make infrequent visits for dental care. However, improving the quality of dental care will still be a prerequisite to improving access to dental care. Nevertheless, they had never been educated on proper tooth-brushing techniques, even though they had visited a dentist since their living conditions had improved.
In terms of health-related QOL, information from quantitative evaluations does not easily translate into an understanding of the various issues for patients. Therefore, this study applied a qualitative research method using in-depth interviews with periodontal disease patients to multifariously examine their experiences and clarify their health-related QOL. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss, gum discomfort, and bad breath but may also increase the risk of heart disease and other complications. If you develop symptoms of gum disease, such as red, sore or bleeding gums, schedule an appointment with a dentist right away.
Treatment Options
If you have gum disease, it’s important to seek treatment from a dentist or periodontist. Treatment options may include:
- Professional dental cleanings
- Scaling and root planing
- Antibiotics
- Surgery in severe cases
- Brush and floss regularly
- Use an antimicrobial mouthwash
- Visit your dentist regularly
- Quit smoking
Living with Gum Disease
Living with gum disease doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a full life. With proper treatment and ongoing maintenance, you can effectively manage the condition and prevent further complications. Here are some tips for living with gum disease:
