Periodontal disease may seem pretty straightforward. If you don’t brush your teeth bacterial plaque develops. The bacteria attack your teeth and gums, breeds, and leads to infection. If left untreated the infection progresses destroying the gingival tissue, periodontal ligaments, and eventually your underlying jawbone. Then your teeth fall out. Pretty cut and dry right? However, there are several different types of periodontal disease and the more you know about the disease the more aware you will be as to how to recognize the symptoms, or better yet keep it at bay.
The Disease
Periodontal disease is a progressive disease and the major cause of tooth loss. The reason you brush your teeth and visit your dentist bi-annually is to help avoid periodontal disease. Keeping your teeth free from bacterial plaque is the secret and is easy in most cases. Harmful oral bacteria that lives in your mouth is attracted to the sugars you eat and drink. It feasts on these sugars, replicates, and produces acids that wear away your tooth enamel and irritate your gingival tissue. The bacteria mix with food debris, sugar, and saliva forming the transparent, sticky bacterial plaque. If the plaque is not removed within 24 hours it attacks your teeth and gums. If it is left untreated indefinitely it hardens into tartar and can only be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist.
The Types
- Gingivitis: The earliest stage of periodontal disease, it can be reversed with the proper care and a professional cleaning.
- Chronic Periodontal Disease: Inflammation below the gumline which results in the destruction of your gums and underlying bone.
- Aggressive Periodontal Disease: A faster progressing form of chronic periodontal disease.
- Systemic-Related Periodontal Disease: When the disease causes or aggravates other systemic conditions or vice versa.
- Necrotizing Periodontal Disease: A rare form that may affect people with malnutrition, chronic stress, immune disorders, HIV, or smokers. It is a form of the disease that causes rapid death of the gingival and alveolar bone tissue.