Executive Director of the European Research Group on Periodontology Professor Maurizio Tonetti said, “You would not ignore bleeding from your eye, so why would you ignore bleeding from your mouth?”

When it comes to taking care of ourselves, we often overlook the dental aspect of our health. And even more so, when it comes to dental care, many times we only think about our teeth. Well, September is National Gum Care Month, and for good reason. Gum diseases are much more common than you might think. According to the National Library of Medicine, “Almost half, 47.2%, of all adults aged 30 years and older have some form of gum disease.”

This risk of gum disease rate is much higher than a lot of people would expect! So let’s take a look at these gum diseases, and see who might be at risk.

What gum diseases are there?

Now, for the sake of clarification, most literature on the topic of gum disease talks about periodontal diseases. Periodontal is defined by Oxford Languages as, “relating to or affecting the structures surrounding and supporting the teeth.” Simply put, periodontal is just a fancy way of referring to the gums. To make things more simple, I’ll just refer to gum diseases as periodontal diseases for consistency.

There are many different types of periodontal diseases and many different variations of them. It’s not the purpose of this article to be a comprehensive guide, but it is my intention to give a good overview. So let’s go over several of the main types of periodontal diseases that are more common in the modern world.

Gingivitis:

Of the following diseases, Gingivitis is one of the most common and least invasive. However, it is still an issue that must be readily dealt with. If it isn’t dealt with, gingivitis can easily develop into a much worse situation. It has a variety of symptoms including red and swollen gums, as well as the tendency to bleed easily. But what causes it? Well, gingivitis is caused by toxins in plaque, usually because of lacking dental hygiene. It goes to show the importance of flossing regularly and frequently, as well as brushing your teeth  This drastically helps to defend against gingivitis. Also, if you need another reason not to smoke, preserving gum health certainly fits that criteria! Smoking also increases your chance of developing gingivitis.

Chronic Periodontal Disease:

At many stages, gingivitis may not cause much discomfort, if any at all. However, if it is not dealt with it can turn into a much worse disease. The advanced form of gingivitis is called Periodontitis. Chronic Periodontal Disease is the most common form of periodontitis, and it occurs much more commonly in those aged 45 or older. The outcome of this disease includes inflammation below the gum line, as well as the gradual destruction of gingival and bone tissue. Although it might appear that teeth are simply growing longer because of this disease, in reality, it is just the gums being destroyed.

Aggressive Periodontal Disease:

Aggressive Periodontal Disease is essentially the same as Chronic Periodontal Disease, but it occurs at a much faster rate. Those particularly at risk are those who smoke, and those with a genetic history of Aggressive Periodontal Disease in their family.

Necrotizing Periodontal Disease:

This is a worse form of the disease that causes tissue death, also called necrosis, to occur. It frequently impacts the periodontal ligament, gingival tissues, and alveolar bone. This form of periodontal disease is extremely rare.

Periodontal Disease Relating to Systemic Conditions:

Periodontal disease can also be a symptom of another disease. It depends on what the underlying condition is, but periodontal disease relating to systemic conditions can behave in a very similar way to aggressive periodontal disease, causing the destruction of gingival and bone tissue.

Who is at risk of gum disease?

Really, anyone can be at risk of gum disease. But there are certain traits that can put you more at risk. If you are diabetic, elderly, or have other diseases, then your odds of contracting gingivitis are much higher. Pregnancy, stress, infections, and medication usage can also all play a role in contributing to periodontal diseases.

But there are other things out of your control such as genetics or hormones that can also cause gingivitis or periodontitis. Brushing and flossing greatly contribute to lowering your risk of contracting any of these diseases, as well as the elimination of smoking. By taking simple steps, you can greatly reduce your odds of needing surgery later down the line.

What should be done?

If you have one of these diseases or are concerned that you might, you should obviously talk to your dentist. As Professor Mariano Sanz, Professor and chair of periodontology at the University of Madrid in Spain said, “Very early periodontitis is often undiagnosed and causes various problems later in life such as developing severe periodontitis. Severe periodontitis is the real public health problem, it does not only affect the health of the gums, it has implications to the general health of the patient and their well-being.” More than that, however, there are practical steps that you can take to help prevent falling victim to one of these unfortunate outcomes.

You should brush your teeth without fail, and floss between your teeth as well. Additionally, stay away from cigarettes. Beyond that, if you have diabetes, are elderly, have a disease, or are constantly stressed, make sure you pay special attention to your dental health. If gingivitis runs in your family, you are pregnant, have an infection, or use medication, make sure to do the same. There are also various treatments for each of these diseases that can be conducted to help mitigate or remove the damage they cause.

Treatment for Gingivitis:

Gingivitis is actually easily reversible if given attention. A solid share of in-home care and professional cleaning can help rid the mouth of this disease. Some dentists may prescribe several other methods such as deep scaling procedures to help clean debris, and a combination of antibiotics and medicated mouthwashes. By faithfully utilizing these treatments, gingivitis can be cured.

Treatment for Chronic Periodontal Disease:

Unlike gingivitis, chronic periodontal disease can’t be cured because damage has already been done. However, further damage can be stopped using scaling and root planing procedures with antimicrobial treatments. Some surgeries can also be conducted to help strengthen the bone and improve appearance.

Treatment for Aggressive Periodontal Disease:

The treatment for aggressive periodontal disease is very similar to the treatment for chronic periodontal disease but is more likely to include surgery. Additionally, much of the process focuses on saving valuable bone and tissue before it is too late.

Treatment for Necrotizing Periodontal Disease:

Necrotizing periodontal disease is a very rare disease. Associates in Family Dentistry summarized what can sometimes be done to help writing, “Necrotizing periodontal disease is extremely rare. Because it may be associated with HIV or another serious medical condition, it is likely the dentist will consult with a physician before commencing treatment. Scaling, root planing, antibiotic pills, medicated mouthwash, and fungicidal medicines are generally used to treat this form of the disease.” The main treatment for this focuses on fighting the underlying condition. Any further treatments would usually be the same as treatments for chronic or aggressive periodontal disease.

Conclusion

The best way to fight against any of these is to not get them in the first place! So take care of your teeth now, so you won’t have to utilize any of these severe treatments later.

Athens Family Dental offers patients all of the resources they need to achieve the dental health they deserve and avoid being at risk of gum disease. Schedule an appointment today!