Periodontal disease is a fairly common tooth ailment, and taking charge of your periodontal disease is key to saving your teeth and maintaining good tooth and gum health. At Island Dental Associates, we provide periodontal information and services to all of our Long Island area patients facing or simply looking to learn more about the disease, and we can’t stress regular oral hygiene practices enough when it comes to staying on top of your health.
Periodontal disease is a form of gum disease that afflicts almost 80% of Americans in some shape or form, but some cases may be more severe than others. The stages of the disease can range from simple, yet uncomfortable, gum inflammation and the severity can increase all the way to tooth loss through the loss of soft tissue and bone structure.
Periodontal disease is caused by a buildup of plaque on or in between the teeth which progresses into tartar. Both plaque and tartar are made up of bacteria, and the longer that bacterium is allowed to be present on your teeth, the more harmful it becomes, and it can create a situation where gum disease has begun. This occurs when the bacteria makes its way to your gums, creating swollen and inflamed gums that bleed easily, and this stage is referred to as gingivitis. Gingivitis can be reversed rather easily with regular good oral hygiene practices, but when it is left to its own devices, it will progress into what is known as periodontal disease.
When gingivitis is allowed to progress into periodontitis, the gums will begin to pull away from the teeth and create pockets of bacteria which cause infection. As the gums pull away from the teeth, additional plaque will begin to form below the gum line, causing the body to fight the infection using enzymes which can actually degrade tooth and bone structure. In worst case scenarios when the teeth begin to grow loose, this will mean the loss of affected teeth and the need for dental implants or dentures.
If you’ve been diagnosed with periodontal disease, it’s always important to take charge of your oral health. At Island Dental Associates, we can provide you with the necessary treatments to keep your periodontal disease at bay, and when combined with regular brushing and flossing, this can lead to the saving of your natural teeth as well as the conquering of the disease. For all of those in the Long Island area who have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, we suggest you call us today to set up a consultation and begin taking charge of your oral health!
