{"id":1414,"date":"2016-10-18T00:00:12","date_gmt":"2016-10-18T00:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/12facts.com\/?p=1414"},"modified":"2021-11-29T19:04:46","modified_gmt":"2021-11-29T19:04:46","slug":"12-facts-periodontal-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/12facts.com\/12-facts-periodontal-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Interesting Facts and Myths about Periodontal Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have been told you have periodontal (gum) disease, you\u2019re not alone.\u00a0Many adults in the U.S. currently have some form of the disease.<\/p>\n

According to recent findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), half of Americans aged 30 or older have periodontitis, the more advanced form of periodontal disease. This equals approximately 64.7 million Americans.<\/p>\n

Periodontal diseases range from simple gum inflammation to serious disease that results in major damage to the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth. In the worst cases, teeth are lost.<\/p>\n

Whether your gum disease is stopped, slowed, or gets worse depends a great deal on how well you care for your teeth and gums every day.<\/p>\n

Read on to discover some of the weird and wonderful facts<\/a> about dentistry and gum disease you probably never knew or even thought you\u2019d need to know\u2026 until now!<\/p>\n

1. What Is Periodontal Disease?<\/h2>\n
\"What

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Periodontal disease (Gum disease) is an inflammatory disease that affects the soft and hard structures that support the teeth.<\/p>\n

Gum disease is an infection of the gums. It is caused byplaque, a sticky film that collects on teeth and gums. Plaque makes acids and toxins that can make gums red, puffy, or bleed.<\/p>\n

Over time, gum disease can cause gums to pull away from the teeth. This can form pockets between the teeth and gums. Germs can become trapped in these pockets, causing the bone around the teeth to become weak.<\/p>\n

Gum disease is common. Many people have an early form of gum disease, which can be treated with good oral care. But if you ignore gum disease, it can weaken the bone around the teeth, causing teeth to become loose and eventually fall out.<\/p>\n

2. Periodontal Disease Is a Natural Part of Aging?<\/h2>\n
\"Periodontal

courtesy of: rockymountaindentalcare.com<\/p><\/div>\n

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Gum disease is not an inevitable effect of aging. Gum disease is caused by a build up of dental plaque — and that can happen to seniors and teens alike. Gum disease is more common in seniors who face changes such as receding gums and a faster build up of plaque. Other factors such as smoking, dry mouth and taking certain medications can increase the risk of periodontal disease in seniors even more.<\/p>\n

3. There Are Different Type of Periodontal Diseases!<\/h2>\n
\"There

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In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums become swollen and red due to inflammation, which is the body\u2019s natural response to the presence of harmful bacteria.<\/p>\n

In the more serious form of periodontal disease called periodontitis, the gums pull away from the tooth and supporting gum tissues are destroyed. Bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or eventually fall out<\/p>\n

(There are many forms of periodontitis. The most common ones include the following.<\/p>\n

Aggressive periodontitis occurs in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. Common features include rapid attachment loss and bone destruction and familial aggregation.<\/p>\n

Chronic periodontitis results in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive attachment and bone loss. This is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis and is characterized by pocket formation and\/or recession of the gingiva. It is prevalent in adults, but can occur at any age. Progression of attachment loss usually occurs slowly, but periods of rapid progression can occur.<\/p>\n

Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic diseases often begins at a young age. Systemic conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes are associated with this form of periodontitis.<\/p>\n

Necrotizing periodontal disease is an infection characterized by necrosis of gingival tissues, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. These lesions are most commonly observed in individuals with systemic conditions such as HIV infection, malnutrition and immunosuppression.)<\/p>\n

4. Gum Disease Isn’t That Serious And Will Go Away on Its Own.<\/h2>\n
\"Gum

courtesy of: dossettdentalmckinney.com<\/p><\/div>\n

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Gum disease develops slowly over time and may not show symptoms along the way. But that doesn’t make it any less serious for seniors. Plus, the disease will not resolve by itself. What starts with a little redness of the gums and bleeding can develop into pockets around the base of the teeth, which eventually become loose and fall out. The only way to remove plaque deep under the gums is with regular dental cleanings.<\/p>\n

5. I’ll Spot the Signs of Gum Disease Before it Gets Too Severe.<\/h2>\n
\"I'll

courtesy of: petranska.sk<\/p><\/div>\n

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Gum disease isn’t easy to detect, especially early on. In fact, many seniors don’t know that they have periodontal disease because it has been developing slowly over time. That’s why regular dental visits are so important. A professional deep cleaning will remove any plaque build up in places you might not be able to reach on your own.<\/p>\n

6. I Shouldn’t Worry if My Gums Bleed when I Brush My Teeth.<\/h2>\n
\"I

courtesy of: thrombocyte.com<\/p><\/div>\n

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Your gums shouldn’t bleed when you brush or floss. Bleeding gums are one of several signs of periodontal disease. Other signs include:Red, swollen or tender gums,sores in your mouth, gums that are pulling away from the teeth, persistent bad breath (halitosis), pus between your teeth and gums,loose or separating teeth,changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite and any change in the fit of partial dentures.<\/p>\n

7. Gum Disease Doesn’t Have Anything to do With the Rest of Your Health.<\/h2>\n
\"

courtesy of: mobile.ikub.al<\/p><\/div>\n

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The bacteria released with chronic oral infections can spread and contribute to disease in other parts of the body. Gum disease is linked to several other health<\/a> conditions in seniors, including coronary heart disease and stroke. Having periodontal disease makes it more difficult for people with diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels. It can also pose a threat to people with respiratory diseases or osteoporosis.<\/p>\n

If you have gum disease, your dentist may recommend scaling and root planing. This non-surgical gum disease treatment involves removing dental plaque and dental calculus in the pockets around the tooth and smoothing the root surfaces. More advanced cases of gum disease may require surgical dental treatment.<\/p>\n

8. Bleeding Gums Are Not That Big of a Deal.<\/h2>\n
\"Bleeding

courtesy of: med-health.net<\/p><\/div>\n

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Red, swollen and bleeding gums are an important sign of periodontal disease. If you notice bleeding while brushing or flossing, or when eating certain foods, you should schedule a visit with your dental professional to be evaluated for periodontal disease. Studies have shown that in addition to tooth loss, gum disease may contribute to the progression of other diseases, including heart disease and diabetes, so it is important that you begin treating periodontal disease as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

9. You Don\u2019t Need to Floss Every Day.<\/h2>\n
\"You

courtesy of: yagmur.news<\/p><\/div>\n

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Routine oral care, which includes brushing after every meal and before bedtime, and flossing at least once a day, is the best way to prevent gum disease. However, a recent survey estimates that only 13.5 percent of Americans floss each day. It is vital that you keep up with your daily oral care, and see a dental professional for a thorough check-up twice a year. If gum disease is diagnosed, a consultation with a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating periodontal disease, may be beneficial.<\/p>\n

10. A Visit to The Periodontist Will Be Scary.<\/h2>\n
\"A

courtesy of: bluscreens.net<\/p><\/div>\n

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Periodontists are gum disease experts. They have received three or more years of specialized training following dental school centered on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of periodontal disease. Periodontists are equipped with the latest treatments and technologies, using innovative tools such as digital radiography, ultrasound technology, biomarker measurement and laser therapy to help make your visit more comfortable.<\/p>\n

11. A Tooth Lost to Gum Disease is a Tooth Lost Forever.<\/h2>\n
\"A

courtesy of: woodenitbeamazing.com<\/p><\/div>\n

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Gum disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. However, in addition to treating gum disease, periodontists are also experts in placing dental implants \u2013 a convenient and comfortable way to permanently replace missing teeth. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth. Studies have shown that dental implants have a 98 percent success rate, and with proper care, allow you to speak, eat and smile with confidence. In fact, a survey conducted by the American Academy of Periodontology found that over 70 percent of respondents reported being \u201cpleased\u201d or \u201cextremely satisfied\u201d with the results of their dental implants.<\/p>\n

12. Poor Oral Hygiene is The Only Way to Develop Gum Disease.<\/h2>\n
\"Poor

courtesy of: tnapost.com<\/p><\/div>\n

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Forgoing good oral hygiene can certainly contribute to the progression of gum disease, but there are a variety of other factors that can also impact your risk. For instance, tobacco use has been shown to greatly increase your chance of developing gum disease. Stress, poor diet, and even genetics, can also play a role in the health<\/a> of your gums.<\/p>\n

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If you have been told you have periodontal (gum) disease, you\u2019re not alone.\u00a0Many adults in the U.S. currently have some form of the disease. According to recent findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), half of Americans aged 30 or older have periodontitis, the more advanced form of periodontal disease. This equals […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1418,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[151],"tags":[233,236,237,235,234],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/12facts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1414"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/12facts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/12facts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/12facts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/12facts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1414"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/12facts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1414\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40341,"href":"https:\/\/12facts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1414\/revisions\/40341"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/12facts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/12facts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/12facts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/12facts.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}