Do I have Periodontal (Gum) Diseases?
Periodontal diseases are commonly infections of the teeth, gums and the bone that surrounds the teeth. Most people who have periodontal gum diseases aren't even aware of it. It's rarely painful, especially in it's early stages. The main cause of periodontal gum diseases is the accumulation of plaque. Plaque is the sticky film of food and bacteria that forms constantly on your teeth. It's hard to see plaque, but look at how it shows up after it's been stained with red dye.
You must completely remove plaque each day, or it builds up and mineralizes to become tartar, also called calculus. It takes a professional to remove hard tartar; there's no way for you to remove it at home safely. A toothbrush or floss won't budge it. If tartar isn't removed, it spreads onto the root surfaces, causing damage and bad breath.
Tartar can show up on X-rays as small white lumps on the sides of the teeth. Bacteria that cause periodontal diseases thrive here. Bacteria produce toxins, and it's these toxins, combined with your body's reaction to them, that destroys bone around your teeth, deepening your gum pockets.
Some of the warning signs of periodontal disease are:
Persistent bad breath
Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
Soft, swollen or tender gums
Gums separating away from the teeth
Loose teeth
Changes in the spaces between your teeth, which reflect changes in the underlying bone levels
Keep in mind, however, that you can have periodontal diseases and still experience none of these symptoms! That is another reason for regular Dental check-ups, to discover gum problems early.
Where/how does gum disease start?
The roots of the teeth extend into the bone of the jaw. When everything is healthy, the bone comes up around the necks of the teeth and is even throughout the mouth. The crevice between the tooth and gums, called the sulcus, is two to three millimeters deep when it's healthy. When plaque and tartar invade a sulcus, and becomes deeper than three millimeters, it's called a pocket. Pockets are excellent hiding places for plaque and bacteria, so the problem usually worsens, and bone tissue is lost. Once bone has been lost, it RARELY grows back. When too much bone is lost, there's so little support for the teeth that they get loose and have to be removed. This used to be called "Pyorrhoea".
Since you may have periodontal disease, yet have none of the symptoms, your dentist will perform a thorough examination using a periodontal probe to measure bone levels around the teeth. X-rays may confirm any bone loss. When the bone level falls, the gums pull away from the tooth, forming a vertical pocket. Your dentist measures the depth of this pocket with a periodontal probe. The measurement is from the bottom of the pocket, where the gum is attached to the tooth, to the top of the gums.
These are healthy gums ----->
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CASE HISTORY:
BEFORE
This patient has generalised gum disease. Note the swollen red gum margins and tartar deposits visible.
Much more tartar was present on the tongue side of these teeth, leading to gum loss, bad breath and bleeding gums.
AFTER
1week after prolongued gum teatment and patient hygiene, the gums are already firmer, pinker and healthier.
All that tartar removed from above the gum line has allowed a great improvement in gum health - regular hygiene visits are essential to prevent relapse. |
