What is periodontal (gum) disease?

Gum disease (periodontal disease) is a slow progressing, chronic disease that infects your gums and the bone surrounding your teeth. If it becomes severe, it will ultimately lead to your teeth falling out. If your gums become inflamed, irritated, infected or bleed easily, you have the beginning stages of gum disease. Gum disease is caused by bacteria. The bacteria feed off the food that we eat and break it down to form plaque. Plaque is a film that forms on our teeth and is composed of food, bacteria and bacteria waste products. Our body's immune system is unable to fight the infection by itself. By removing the plaque through brushing and flossing, we maintain healthy gums and allow our bodies to flight off the residual infection. If the plaque stays on your teeth for a couple of days, it begins to calcify and become calculus. Once calculus forms you are no longer able to remove it with just a tooth brush. It requires a dental cleaning. Just like the bacteria that cause common cold, the bacteria that cause gum disease can be transferred between people. Kissing, drinking out of the same glass or sharing the same utensils to eat are all ways periodontal pathogens can be transferred between people. So, how do you know if you have gum disease if it does not hurt? Most patients who have gum disease have teeth that look longer than normal and/or have big spaces between their teeth. This occurs because the gums and bone have receded leaving more tooth showing. Another sign that you have gum disease is, if you have teeth that are loose or teeth that move. If your gums bleed while you brush them, you can also know that you have the beginning stages of gum disease. Gum disease is a chronic infection that affects the rest of your body as well. There is an abundance of scientific research relating gum disease to premature/low birth weight babies, diabetes, and heart disease. A healthy body means a healthy mouth as well. If you have any questions, please contact us through our website, www.FordDentalGroup.com or call us at 714-842-7431.