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You are probably aware that the lack of proper oral hygiene and preventive dental care will affect not only your teeth but your gums too. But, do you know the difference between periodontitis and gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that causes irritation, redness, gums that bleed easily, and inflammation of the gums around the base of the teeth. If not treated properly, it can cause a major infection known as periodontitis. The common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene.
Periodontitis is a gum disease caused by existing and growing bacteria in the mouth that enables the plaque to form around the tooth. If not treated accordingly by a Pineville dentist, this can lead to tooth loss and damage to the tissue surrounding the tooth.
Both are gum diseases caused by growing mouth bacteria, poor oral hygiene, and other existing health issues. Gingivitis is an early stage of periodontitis that has not been treated properly or in a timely manner. It does not necessarily lead to it, but focusing on prevention can save you from more severe tooth damage.
As gingivitis has mild symptoms, it often goes ignored. Fortunately, this can be prevented and even reversed by correctly brushing your teeth, flossing, and having regular dental check-ups.
Early stages of gingivitis do not necessarily affect how firmly the teeth are planted in the socket, even though the gums show signs of irritation. When this turns to periodontitis, the gum pulls away from the tooth forming pockets where bacterial waste is accumulated, causing infections.
As the disease evolves and begins to affect the gum and bone tissue, teeth are no longer supported in place, causing them to become loose. Left untreated, this eventually leads to tooth loss, making gum disease the main cause of tooth loss in adults.
Plaque is what generally causes gum disease. Nevertheless, we can also consider the following aspects:
Even though there are cases where gum disease shows few signs, there are ways to tell if you have gingivitis or periodontitis disease.
Because these signs can be unclear sometimes, it is important to visit a dental health professional regularly. Both gingivitis and periodontitis have similar symptoms, one being before the other. It’s a good idea to visit your dentist if:
Depending on if you have gingivitis or periodontitis, the doctor will perform a diagnosis and prepare a periodontal treatment to reduce swelling, reestablish gum health, reduce pocket depth, halt the infection, and stop the disease from progressing.
This is done by using nonsurgical therapies for the early stages of gingivitis and with surgery for more advanced stages of periodontitis.
We understand these procedures can cause fear and/or anxiety, which is why at Pineville Family Dentistry we want to make sure you receive the best treatment in a safe environment.
We are a family dental practice with a comfortable homelike atmosphere. Contact Dr. Troy Babb today to schedule a personalized assessment, or to learn more about us and how we work. We also invite you to visit our Pineville Family Dentist blog for more information about dental health.
