PeriodontalHealthandDisease · Introduction DefinitionofPeriodontalDisease Periodontal(gum)diseases,including gingivitisandperiodontitis,areserious infectionsthat,leftuntreated,canleadto

Guide toPeriodontal Health and Disease

Toxins produced by bacteria(shown magnified above) inplaque irritate the gums,stimulating a response thataffects the entire body

Introduction

1. Healthy Bones and Gums

2. Initial Gum Disease(Gingivitis)

3. Early Gum Disease

4. Moderate Gum Disease

5. Advanced Gum Disease

6. Severe Gum Disease

Table of Contents

Introductio

n

Definition of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal (gum) diseases, includinggingivitis and periodontitis, are seriousinfections that, left untreated, can lead totooth loss.The word periodontal literallymeans “around the tooth.” Periodontaldisease is a chronic bacterial infectionthat affects the gums and bone supportingthe teeth.

Contributing Factors

• Smoking, tobacco use• Genetics• Puberty and hormones• Stress• Medications• Clenching or grinding teeth• Diabetes and poor nutrition

Stages and Progression

In the mildest form of the disease, gingivitis,the gums redden, swell and bleed easily.There is usually little or no discomfort.Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oralhygiene; it is reversible with professional

Introductiontreatment and good oral home care. Untreatedgingivitis can advance to periodontitis.Withtime, plaque can spread and grow below thegum line.Toxins produced by the bacteria inplaque irritate the gums.The toxins stimulatea chronic inflammatory response in which thebody, in essence, turns on itself, and thetissues and bone that support the teeth arebroken down and destroyed.Thisinflammatory response also triggers otherreactions in your body.

Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets(spaces between the teeth and gums) thatbecome infected. As the disease progresses,the pockets deepen and more gum tissue andbone are destroyed. Often this destructiveprocess has very mild symptoms. Eventually,teeth can become loose and may have to beremoved. Gum disease is also linked to heartdisease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory diseaseand osteoporosis.

The following pages and photographsillustrate dental health and the decliningstages of gum and bone disease.

Periodontal probereading showshealthy gums

1

Hea

lthyBones

and

Gum

s

Healthy Bones and Gums•Gums are pale pink and may have orange peel texture•Gums do not bleed with gentle probing or flossing•Gums attach firmly to the tooth surface•Bone completely surrounds the roots of the tooth andteeth are firmly anchored

•No foul mouth odors or tastes•No pain when chewing or biting

2Initial Gum Disease(Gingivitis)

InitialG

um

Disea

se(G

ingivitis)

•Gums become red, swollen and inflamed•Gums bleed easily when brushing, flossing or gentle probing•Bad breath•No noticeable pain when chewing and biting•No foul tastes•No abscesses or oozing pus•Brought on by bacteria in dental plaque not removed on adaily basis

•Damage is reversible with non-surgical dental treatment,antimicrobial rinses and good home oral care

Periodontal probe readingis less than 4 mm. andthere is no bone loss

Swollen gums

Early bone loss and formationof periodontal pockets of4 mm. to 6 mm. in depth

3

EarlyGum

Disea

se

Early Gum Disease• Infection of bone and gums•Bad breath•Occasional foul tastes•Gums bleed easily when brushing and flossing•Visible plaque•No noticeable pain•Minor amount of bone loss•Receding gums•Disease may be treatable with scaling and rootplaning, antimicrobial rinses and home care

Infection causespockets to deepen

4Moderate Gum Disease

Moder

ateGum

Disea

se

• Infection of bone and gums•Foul odors and tastes from mouth•Frequently have blood and pus released from the gumswhen brushing, flossing and eating

•No noticeable pain•Moderate bone loss•Loose teeth•Receding gums•Visible plaque•Treatment is urgent

Receding gum and visible plaque

Majority of periodontalpocket is infectedcausing serious bone loss

Extensive bone loss

5Advanced Gum Disease

Adva

nce

dGum

Disea

se

•Advanced infections of bone and gums•Offensive mouth odor and horrible tastes•Constant blood and pus from gums when brushing,flossing or eating

•Occasional dull and diffuse pain•Extensive bone loss•Very loose and disfigured teeth•Without treatment, disease impacts ability to controldiabetes and increases risk for other health complications

Bone and gums arecompletely infecteddown to the root tip

6Severe Gum Disease

Seve

reGum

Disea

se

•Bone and gums are completely infected• Intense foul mouth odors and tastes•Continuous blood and pus from gums•Gums are sore and painful•Complete bone loss•Extremely loose and ugly, disfigured teeth•Results from lack of earlier treatment

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