What is Periodontitis?

Periodontitis is one of the most common dental diseases. It happens when periodontal bacteria builds up over time, which results in inflammation and infected gums. Periodontal bacteria grows rapidly due to the presence of plaque which they feed off of. Most people who have periodontitis get it because of poor oral hygiene habits.

If you notice that your gums are sore and bleeding, especially when you are brushing your teeth, you may want to consider seeing a periodontist to see what’s wrong.

Three Stages of Periodontitis

The first stage of periodontitis is gingivitis. This is when your gums are covered in plaque buildup along the gum line which causes bleeding and swollen gums. The silver lining of gingivitis is that it can be reversed with regular and proper brushing and flossing techniques. Visiting your dentist to get a scaling will also help in reversing gingivitis.

The second stage is periodontitis. Your supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are damaged in this stage. The damage is unfortunately irreversible at this stage, but with proper dental hygiene and regular visits to your dentist will prevent further damage.

The final stage is advanced periodontitis. In this stage your teeth may begin to loosen or fall out due to the fibers and bones supporting your teeth being destroyed.

How to Prevent Periodontitis

If you regularly go to your dentist and practice proper dental health care at home, you are already on the right track in preventing oral diseases. If you suspect to be in one of the above stages of periodontitis, visit your dentist or find a periodontist to get checked out. Depending on which stage you are in, you may be able to reverse the disease, or at least prevent further damage from happening.

Dentistry is very expensive if you wait too long to get checked out for gum and mouth disease. If you want to avoid getting a root planning procedure, visit our Forest Hill Family Dental office in Kitchener Ontario, or call us at 549-578-1300 to book your appointment today!