The Dangers of Periodontal Disease

What do you know about periodontal disease? A common disease that impacts millions, especially those ages 30 and older, gum disease could lead to uncomfortable symptoms and even the risk of adult tooth loss. In today’s blog, your San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about the risks of the disease, as well as preventive options and our treatments.

The Causes of the Gum Disease

When plaque and tartar form on our smiles, caused by oral bacteria breaking down particles of sugar and starch, this could irritate the gums and lead to inflammation. Also known as gingivitis, this could mean soreness and tissues that appear red instead of pink. As the inflammation worsens, the tissues actually pull away from the teeth and for pockets. One harmful oral bacteria enter these pockets, periodontal disease develops. While gingivitis can be reversed with timely care, gum disease cannot. But treatment is possible to manage it and prevent the long-term dangers to your smile.

Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease

As we mentioned above, soreness and red gums could be a sign of trouble. In addition, you could experience bleeding when you brush and floss, and the tissue could swell or even recede. When you notice changes to these tissues, you should let us know right away. We can conduct a thorough exam with advanced imaging systems to assess the cause and extent of your periodontal concerns.

Long-Term Risks

As your symptoms worsen, the disease could reach a late stage known as periodontitis. At this stage, the disease begins to erode the tissue and jawbone that support your teeth. They become loose and eventually fall out. Untreated periodontal issues are actually the most common aue of adult tooth loss. In addition, lack of treatment is also linked to the onset of related inflammatory illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease, which occurs once oral bacteria behind the disease enter your bloodstream.

See Us For Treatment

As you can see, lack of treatment poses a serious risk for your smile. But our team can help. For minor cases, we suggest options like a scaling and root planing, or antibiotic treatment, to help minimize and reverse gingivitis. Moving forward, the disease can be managed with routine cleanings and good oral hygiene habits at home. For more severe cases, we could use surgical procedures like pinhole gum grafts to restore diseased and receding tissues, improving the smile and also avoiding tooth loss. These are just three examples of the myriad of treatment options we can offer to boost your periodontal health.

Talk To Your Encinitas/San Diego, CA Periodontist About Gum Treatment

We would like to help you preserve the health of your smile and the stability of your smile. If you would like to find out more about avoiding or treating this serious oral health concern, call Dr. Kania’s office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.