Periodontal Maintenance

Periodontal Disease

Adults over 35 lose more teeth to gum diseases/periodontal disease than to cavities. There are numerous disease entities requiring different treatment approaches. Simple bacterial gingivitis, infection only of the gums, can be easily controlled with daily brushing and flossing. However, insufficient daily hygiene may allow this infection to proliferate and grow. This may advance the infection allowing it to spread past the gums and into the bone, therefore, establishing an intraosseous infection known as periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease and decay are both caused by bacterial plaque. Plaque is a colorless film which sticks to your teeth. Plaque constantly forms on your teeth. By thorough daily brushing and flossing, you can remove these germs and help prevent periodontal disease.

Periodontal diseases can be accelerated by a number of different factors. If not carefully removed by daily brushing and flossing, plaque hardens into a rough, porous substance known as calculus (or tartar). This hardened shell of bacteria destroys tooth structure, gums, associated ligaments, and bone. The space between your tooth and gums, known as the sulcus, which measures the attachment point between the tooth and bone, is usually about 2-3mm deep in a healthy mouth. When infected, this depth deepens, and it becomes a pocket, decreasing the attachment needed by the tooth for stability and allowing for increased migration of bacteria. This, in turn, creates an even deeper pocket creating mild to serious problems, which may include increased bleeding when brushing and flossing, bad breath (halitosis), pain, mobility, fractures, swelling, and discoloration of the tooth and/or gums. If left untreated, this may lead to tooth loss.