Did you know that about 47 percent of Americans over the age of 30 suffer from a form of periodontitis? Periodontitis, also called gum disease, is a severe infection that destroys soft tissue. When left untreated, it can also damage the bone supporting your teeth. It can cause your teeth to become loose.

Gum disease is a prime cause of tooth loss. Although it is common among the population, you can prevent it. It results from bacteria that grow due to poor oral hygiene. Good oral hygiene, flossing daily, and brushing your teeth twice a day can help prevent periodontitis. It is good practice to have regular dental checkups; this can increase your chances of treating it should it appear.

What Are the Symptoms of Periodontitis?

Healthy gums should be pale pink, fit tightly around your teeth, and be firm. The symptoms of periodontitis are:

• Puffy or swollen gums
• Bleeding gums
• A toothbrush acquiring a pink tinge after brushing
• Bright red, purplish, or dusky gums
• When you brush or floss, you spit out blood
• Tender gums
• Pus between your gums and teeth
• Loss of teeth or loose teeth
• Bad breath
• Sensitive teeth
• Gums recede from your teeth, making the teeth appear longer
• If your teeth are starting to space out
• Your teeth do not fit together the same way when you bite something

When Should You See a Dentist?

It would be best to keep regular checkups with your dentist. When you start seeing symptoms of periodontitis, you should immediately make an appointment. The quicker you attend to the disease, the higher your chances of reversing the damage. When the disease advances, a cure is not an option for you. It is possible to manage advanced periodontitis, not to cure it.

What Causes Periodontitis?

Usually, periodontitis starts from plaque. Accumulated plaque is a breeding ground for bacteria. When not treated early enough, plaque advances to periodontitis.

Formation of Plaque

Plaque starts forming on your teeth when bacteria found on your teeth interact with starches and sugars. Brushing ensures plaque removal. However, plaque forms very quickly.

Plaque Hardens Into Tartar or Calculus

If plaque remains on the teeth for a long period, it becomes hard and becomes tartar. Tartar is usually full of bacteria. Brushing cannot remove tartar. You must get a dentist to remove it.

Plaque Causes Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontitis. It is inflammation and irritation of your gingiva. This is the gum tissue around the base of your teeth. A dentist can reverse this stage of periodontitis. You can reverse it with good oral hygiene and professional cleanings.

Gum Inflammation

When the gums go through continual inflammation, they can cause periodontitis. Next, pockets will form between your teeth and gums. These pockets fill with bacteria, plaque, and tartar. 

When this continues, the pockets become deep infections. The infections can cause you to lose soft tissue and bone. Eventually, you start losing teeth. The persistent inflammation puts strain on your immune system.

For more on periodontitis reversal, visit MAC Family Dentistry at our office in Mandeville, Louisiana. You can also call (985) 238-3797 to book an appointment today.