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Gingivitis & Periodontitis

Gum disease can progress relatively quickly and cause much irreversible damage, if left untreated. Gum disease develops when excessive bacteria (plaque) adhere to the surfaces of the tooth, proliferate and release toxic compounds in their byproduct. These toxic compounds then seap into our gingiva and stimulate an inflamatory response in our body.

When inflammation occurs in our bodies, we generally observe:

increased blood flow (gum appearing dark red or purple)
thinning out of the skin surface (bleeding with flossing)
heightened tactile sense (pain with flossing/brushing)
tissue necrosis/dying (gum pulling/peeling away from tooth surface)
pooling of toxic compounds in saliva (developing bad breath)

Altogether, the bacterial toxins & our body's reactions lead to the actual destruction of the attached gingiva. This progress of gum disease is illustrated in the above diagram.

Gingivitis is the mild form of gum disease; the damage caused by gingivitis is usually limited only to the surrounding soft tissues. Here, all the above described signs of inflamation are present. If left long enough, gingivitis can spread and affect neighbouring teeth. Fortunately, for most cases of gingivitis, routine professional (that is, hygiene care) cleaning & regular home care are all that is required to correct the problem.

Periodontitis is the more severe form of gum disease. It occurs when gingivitis has been left too long without intervention. Here, the disease has spread deep enough to damage the underlying structures - such as the bone and adjacent tooth-supporting ligaments. Because the gingiva is closely supported by the bone, bone loss is almost always accompanied by gum recession. Sometimes, bone loss can still occur without the visible detection of gum recession. If left alone long enough, periodontitis will surely lead to increased tooth mobility, and ultimately, tooth loss.

Fortunately, there are Gum Therapies that can halt or repair the damage caused by gum disease - provided we intervene early enough.

For more Information, please click on the links below:
Frequently Asked Questions: On Gum Disease (Can. Dental Assn.)