Periodontitis is a severe gum disease that destroys the structures supporting the teeth. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss in its severe stage. Understanding the symptoms and causes of periodontitis can help patients seek preventive measures and treatment before it progresses.
Symptoms of Periodontitis
The symptoms of periodontitis start off mild before escalating. Some of the earlier symptoms include bleeding from the gums when brushing and flossing. Gums also appear red and swollen and are sensitive when touched. Foul breath is also a common symptom of early periodontitis. As periodontitis becomes severe, patients experience receding gum tissue, making teeth appear longer. They also experience pus along the gum line and between the teeth.
Causes of Periodontitis
There are several reasons why one may develop periodontitis, some of which are. Periodontitis can be caused by a myriad of reasons, with poor oral hygiene, smoking, medical conditions, and medications being the most common causes.
Poor oral hygiene
This is the failure to take care of your teeth by not brushing or flossing your teeth. Failure to brush your teeth lets plaque accumulate and form tartar, a hard substance that can only be removed by deep cleaning. Plaque and tartar contain a lot of bacteria that cause inflammation of the gums, causing periodontitis.
Smoking
Smoking and the use of other tobacco products puts your teeth at risk. Smoking lowers the ability to fight off infections, putting you at risk of getting periodontitis. Smoking also stains the teeth and aggravates the build-up of tartar.
Medical conditions
Systemic diseases put your dental health at risk. They lower your body's ability to fight infection and increase the risk of inflammation. Diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases increase the risk of getting periodontal disease.
Medication
Some medications affect the salivary glands' ability to produce saliva by reducing the amount of saliva in the mouth. This causes dry mouth and increases bacteria in the mouth. Subsequently, this leads to inflammation and increases the risk of periodontitis. Some drugs reported to cause dry mouth are calcium-channel blockers, cyclosporine, and phenytoin.
About | Wilmington, DE | Delaware Periodontics Above all else, we here at Delaware Periodontics want our patients to maintain healthy, bright, and beautiful smiles. Call us today to schedule an appointment! Delaware Periodontics - Dr Brad Klassman, 1110 N Bancroft Pkwy, Wilmington, DE 19805 / 302-551-3553 / delawareperiodontics.com / 10/6/2024 / Related Phrases: Dental Implants Wilmington De /
Periodontitis is a severe gum disease that destroys the structures supporting the teeth. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss in its severe stage. Understanding the symptoms and causes of periodontitis can help patients seek preventive measures and treatment before it progresses.