Like most chronic dental diseases, periodontal disease isn’t inevitable. Despite the fact that it affects nearly 80% of adults to some degree, the condition commonly known as gum disease is highly preventable under the right circumstances. Those circumstances include consistently good hygiene, regular preventive dental care, and when necessary, the help of a periodontal expert. For patients in Encinitas/San Diego, the key to preventing or managing periodontal disease is often knowing as much as possible about the disease and how it affects their smiles.

You might not notice it at first

One of the reasons why periodontal disease is so common is because patients don’t always recognize the early symptoms when they first appear. For example, gum disease, which is caused by harmful oral bacteria infecting your gums, will make your gums become red and inflamed. It can also cause them to bleed slightly when you brush and floss. None of these symptoms seem alarming at first, so many patients ignore them or simply don’t notice them at first.

It’s the leading cause behind tooth loss

Periodontal disease may develop in your gums, but it’s also a leading cause behind adults losing teeth. That’s because your gums, periodontal ligaments, and jawbone structure are all vital to supporting your teeth. When gum disease erodes these structures, it makes tooth loss inevitable due to the weakening of their support systems.

It could affect much more than your smile

As gum disease progresses, the inflammation in your tissues becomes significantly more severe. This inflammation can spread throughout other areas of your body if the disease is allowed to reach its most severe stage – periodontitis. As a common risk factor in numerous chronic diseases, this unchecked inflammation makes periodontal disease a frequent risk factor in the development of such diseases (including cardiovascular disease and diabetes).

Learn More About the Dangers of Periodontal Disease

The more you know about periodontal disease, the better prepared you’ll be to prevent it or treat it and save your smile from its consequences. For more information, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.