You may think that gum disease is something you only see in commercials, but in fact, gum disease can be very serious. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss and can even make chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, worse.
Gum disease, also called periodontitis, comes in three stages. Here, you will find information on the three stages of gum disease and what to look for in your mouth if you suspect you have gum disease.
Stage One Of Gum Disease
Dentists call Stage One gingivitis. If you have gingivitis, your gums may look red rather than pink. You might also notice your gums look swollen or larger than normal.
Regular cleaning, brushing, flossing, and dental visits can reverse gingivitis. You’ll be able to see improvements to your gum health with a regular dental plan.
Stage Two Of Gum Disease
Stage Two of gum disease is called periodontitis. In Stage Two, your gums will begin to develop spaces between your gum tissue, teeth, and bones.
Food and bacteria can collect in these spaces or pockets. This only makes gum disease worse if you don’t get treatment.
In Stage Two of gum disease, a periodontist or dentist can treat your gums, but your gum disease is permanent.
Stage Three Of Gum Disease
In Stage Three of gum disease or advanced periodontitis, damage to your gums will be very visible. The pockets around your teeth will be larger, and your teeth may even shift. You may experience pain as well as tooth loss. Aggressive intervention is needed to save your teeth and gum tissue.
If you are worried about gum disease, your best defense is brushing and flossing daily, combined with regular visits to the dentist. If you have questions about gum disease, why not visit us for more information? You can also call us to book an appointment.
