What Is Periodontal (Gum) Disease?
What gum disease actually is, how it progresses from reversible gingivitis to bone loss, and the warning signs worth acting on.
Plaque that is not removed hardens into tartar, which cannot be brushed away. The body responds to the bacteria with inflammation, and over time that inflammation destroys the tissue and bone anchoring the tooth.
The two stages
Gingivitis is the early stage: gums that are red, swollen and bleed when brushed. No bone has been lost, and it is fully reversible with cleaning and better home care. Periodontitis is what follows if it continues. The gum detaches from the tooth, pockets form, and bone is lost. That loss does not come back — which is the whole reason for treating the first stage seriously.
Signs worth an appointment
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste
- Gums pulling back, making teeth look longer
- Teeth that feel loose, or a bite that has changed
- New spaces opening between teeth