Dental Gum Disease Basics

Lots of people get cavities every year and there are thousands of adults and children that visit dentists daily because of this affliction. Many of these people believe that their cavities are likely to lead to the loss of their teeth if they are left untreated. While this can certainly happen, cavities are not the leading cause of tooth loss.

Surprised? A great number of people would be surprised to learn that dental gum disease is actually the number-one cause of tooth loss. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), dental gum disease is responsible for more than twice as many oral health problems than cavities.

This may seem unlikely at first—until you consider that dental gum disease can affect much more than a person’s mouth. Gum disease has been linked to other health problems, like heart disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, stroke, and osteoporosis.

A great number of people believe that dental gum disease happens only to people who neglect to take care of their teeth. People seem to think that gum disease is a condition that occurs because of poor oral health care habits. This is not necessarily the case. There are some people—up to 30 per cent of the population—who are just genetically more likely to get dental gum disease. These people can be up to six times more likely to suffer from this condition—no matter how often they brush their teeth, use dental floss, and see their dental practitioners.

There are two basic types of dental gum disease—gingivitis and periodontitis. These are actually like two classifications of stages of gum disease, with gingivitis being the milder form. It is possible for a person to have gum disease without even knowing it, as sometimes there are no warning signs. This is why regular dental visits and checkups are so essential for everyone.

However, if a person does get diagnosed with any stage of dental gum disease, he is not without hope of treatment. Some dentists use antibiotics for treatment since gum disease is a bacterial infection; but, many dentists prefer not to do this because they do not want their patients to overuse antibiotics. If teeth fall out due to the gum disease, implants can be put in that are hardly noticeable as different from the real teeth.

Though dental gum disease can be undetectable by the patient, it does sometimes present warning signs in some individuals. Some people begin to notice that their gums are bleeding more easily or that their gums have pulled away from their teeth a bit. People may also notice a change—however slight—in how their teeth fit together. Breath may become consistently bad as well.

There are risk factors to developing dental gum disease as well, besides genetics. Smokers are more likely to develop the condition, as are people who use tobacco in any manner. Diabetics also often develop this issue. Certain medications can also make a person more prone to getting dental gum disease—patients who are on steroid drugs, oral contraceptives, and cancer medications often end up getting dental gum disease.