Many people make it a habit to visit their dentist regularly every year to get their teeth checked and cleaned. These appointments help maintain healthy teeth and gums, and also to protect their teeth from developing more serious problems. Besides tooth decay, dental practitioners also monitor and treat gingivitis, a disease where a bacterial infection inflames the soft tissue (gum).Gingivitis can lead to “periodontal disease”, usually the primary mitigating factor for bone and tooth loss.

Teeth actually contain living tissues - bone marrow, nerves and blood vessels. The gums and bones surrounding and supporting teeth are alive, as well, and do respond to improper hygiene, disease and infection.

If the gums and bone recede, the roots of the teeth are not protected from bacteria and decay. As the infection worsens pus and fluids accumulate between the teeth and the gums.
Even if there aren’t always visible signs of infection, the whole area is likely to be sore to the touch, might bleed when teeth are brushed, and possible persistent bad breath, apart from the occasional reddening and swelling of the gums.

Though generally periodontal disease results from poorly maintained teeth and gums, medical conditions (eg: diabetes and kidney problems), medication side effects, habitual teeth grinding or jaw clenching, and sometimes hormonal imbalance can also affect normally healthy teeth and gums.
To arrest or treat gum disease it is imperative for the patient to understand the contributing factors to it and make appropriate changes. For instance, a number of protective mouth guards and mouthpieces are available for patients who grind or clench their teeth to prevent further damage to the tooth structures.
A course of treatment should be started immediately to kill the infection and address the harm already suffered by the patient. The dentist will first examine the damage and advise a daily oral hygiene maintenance routine including brushing, flossing and antibiotic rinses.

The next item to be addressed is the amount of tartar on the teeth, which must be removed professionally. This can often include such procedures as deep scaling and root planing if bone has receded and decay is already present.

When supporting bone (periodontal bone) has already been affected, there are a range of measures, such as soft and/or hard tissue grafting (gum and bone) and laser treatments, which can be employed to reduce the magnitude of the space between the gum tissues and the tooth.

The loss of a single tooth as a result of periodontal disease can affect the strength of the jawbone and lead to more health trouble for the patient. Gum disease has been connected to the development of such medical conditions as heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

Your investment in the treatment and maintenance of your teeth will result in better general wellbeing and good health.