What! Periodontal Disease Is A Silent Killer? | Dr. Alex Midtown NYC Cosmetic Dentist

What! Periodontal Disease Is A Silent Killer?

A majority of US adults have some sort of periodontal disease. From the early stages of Gingivitis to higher stages of periodontitis, gum disease is one of the most common ailments in our society. The odds of you suffering from this disease is too high, as millions of people are facing it. Here are a few things you should know about gum diseases and what can be done about it.

Periodontal Disease: The Silent Killer

Periodontal disease is basically an infection of the bones and tissues that support your teeth. It generally occurs when germs infect the tissues around the teeth, causing bleeding, swelling and redness. The disease has been associated with major health problems including cancers, stillborn births, strokes and heart disease. It is also a leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

The two important stages of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontitis. Here’s a difference between the two:

  • Gingivitis: Basically known as the first stage of gum disease, gingivitis is gum inflammation caused by buildup of plaque (a film on the teeth surface). It is a sticky combination of bacteria and germs known as biofilm. On hardening, the plaque turns into a barnacle-like material, known as tartar. It is quite difficult to remove this hardened calculus. The biofilm continues to grow, infecting your gums, causing bleeding or redness, which may or may not be visible.
  • Periodontitis: If left untreated for a long time, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis. The calculus deposits expand on the teeth surface, causing your gums to leave the teeth and the supporting bone, forming pockets. It creates looseness, misalignment, pain while chewing, bleeding and swelling. Some patients also have sensitive teeth, persistent bad breath and sores inside the mouth. Puss discharge from the gums is another symptom. Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease, as it continues to aggravate with time, eating away the jawbone, until your teeth becomes loose and starts falling out.

Can Periodontal Disease Be Avoided?

The least expensive path to good oral health is prevention. In case there are no infections, your hygienist or dentist will suggest a plan that includes dental hygiene visits, regular brushing and flossing. It is important that you don’t skip you regular teeth cleaning twice a year. To help catch the disease in initial stages, make sure your dental visits are regular. They will look for signs by inserting a probe between your tooth and gum line to identify pockets. During the procedure, numbers corresponding to pocket depths may be called out. Lower the numbers, the better it is.

If you are one of those adults suffering from periodontal disease, don’t ignore the potential risks associated with it. Consult a professional dentist to help you in eliminating the infection for healthier gums and a healthy body. Treat the disease today to take control of your health and your smile. No one looks good smiling, with their teeth not in shape. Give us a call today to fix an appointment with Dr Alex Rubinov.

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