When you think about your oral health, you probably think about your teeth: how straight they are, how white they are, whether or not they have cavities. But your gums are equally as important.
According to the , nearly half of American adults over 30 have some form of periodontal (gum) disease. And it doesn’t get better with age — 70% of adults 65 and older have gum disease.
Fortunately, you won’t just wake up one morning at age 30 with advanced periodontal disease. Unhealthy gums happen over time, which leaves you plenty of opportunity to stop or reverse the effects before they’re permanent.
Let’s take a look at the five stages of gum disease:
- Plaque buildup and tartar
- Gingivitis
- Early periodontal disease
- Moderate periodontal disease
- Advanced periodontal disease
1. Plaque Buildup and Tartar
Plaque buildup and tartar aren’t technically a stage of gum disease. You experience both without experiencing issues with your gums. However, you can’t develop gum disease without first having plaque buildup and tartar. If they’re not a stage, they’re definitely a stepping stone.
Plaque develops on your teeth every day. The bacteria release acid as they feed on carbs and sugars, which can damage your teeth. Brushing twice a day and flossing daily is a great way to combat plaque.
However, if plaque builds up, tartar can develop. Brushing and flossing can’t remove tartar completely; you’ll need a professional teeth cleaning by a dentist to do that. The presence of tartar can start , making it the first sign of trouble for your gums.
2. Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the first stage that can technically be classified as gum disease. At this stage, your gums are experiencing inflammation, not just irritation. Signs of gingivitis include:
- Bleeding while brushing or flossing
- Bad breath
- Swollen gums
- Red gums
Gingivitis is still reversible. By brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and getting your teeth cleaned by a dentist every six months, you can restore your gums to good health.
3. Early Periodontal Disease
After gingivitis, periodontal disease is irreversible. However, the disease is still treatable, especially in its earlier stages. You can minimize the effects and damage of gum disease by following the advice of our dentists.
, your gums will start to pull away from your teeth, forming small pockets in which bacteria and food debris can gather. Like with gingivitis, you’ll likely experience bleeding when brushing or flossing, bad breath, and swollen, red gums. You may also experience some bone loss.
4. Moderate Periodontal Disease
If you have moderate periodontal disease, your bone loss will cause more serious issues. Your teeth may become looser as your gums continue to recede. The pockets around your teeth will become larger, allowing more bacteria to enter not just your bones, but also your bloodstream. This can spread the infection farther.
5. Advanced Periodontal Disease
This is the final stage of gum disease. Without intervention, you’ll likely begin to lose your teeth. You also may suffer from severe pain when eating and a serious case of bad breath.
What Can Be Done to Stop Gum Disease?
Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and scheduling a teeth cleaning appointment with our dentists every six months are your best line of defense against gum disease. These good oral hygiene habits can reverse gingivitis or prevent it from happening in the first place.
If you have an irreversible form of periodontal disease, good oral hygiene habits can still help mitigate the effects. However, you may also need to take advantage of other gum disease treatments such as scaling and root planing.
During the scaling and root planing process, our dentists can clean out the pockets that have formed in your gums, preventing infection. They can also make it easier for your gums to reattach to your teeth.
Keep Your Gums Healthy
Whether you’re trying to practice good oral hygiene to prevent gum disease or you need treatment for an existing case, we’re here to help. Our Novi, MI, gum disease prevention dentists can treat your gum disease or help you prevent gum disease in the first place. Call R. Peter Maly DDS at (248) 347-3700 today, or contact us online to schedule your appointment.