Rather than the tooth itself, periodontal disease, or simply gum disease, affects the area surrounding the tooth and its roots. In other words, periodontal disease will affect both the gum and the underlying bone structure that helps to hold your teeth in place.
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that builds upon the surface of your teeth. This is a natural occurrence that happens when your saliva breaks down the foods that you eat.
Over time, plaque can start to build up into tartar, or calculus, and if left untreated, it can start to cause irreversible damage to your gums, as well as the underlying bone structure.
Typically, the symptoms of gum disease include red, puffy, swollen gums, that bleed easily when you brush or floss.
However, in its earliest stages, periodontal disease is virtually painless, which means that most people aren’t even aware that they’re suffering from it.
In fact, roughly 80% of all people have periodontal disease, but aren’t aware of it!
Beyond causing your gums to bleed, periodontal disease is actually the leading cause of tooth loss.
It has also been linked to many other serious conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, bacterial pneumonia, and even an increased risk of harm to the fetus during pregnancy.
The use of tobacco products is another leading cause of periodontal disease.
With that said, a healthy lifestyle can be one of the most effective tools against periodontal disease, tooth loss, and many other related conditions.
This includes brushing and flossing every day and visiting your dentist for regular checkups.
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