Periodontal (Gums)

Periodontal Disease Prevention Work in San Antonio, TX

What are periodontal (gum) diseases?

Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. The word periodontal means "around the tooth." Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth.

Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth. It begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth) causes the gums to become inflamed.

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 oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.

Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response. The tissues and bones that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen, and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed. Please schedule regular dental visits with us to help fight Periodontal disease in San Antonio.

What is periodontal disease in kids?

Many people think of periodontal disease as an adult problem. However, studies indicate that gingivitis (the first stage of periodontal disease) is nearly a universal finding in children and adolescents. Advanced forms of periodontal disease are rarer in children than in adults but can occur.

What are the types of periodontal diseases in children?

Gingivitis usually causes the gum tissue to swell, turn red and bleed easily. It is preventable and treatable with regular brushing, flossing, and professional dental care. However, left untreated, it can eventually advance to more serious forms of periodontal disease.

Aggressive periodontitis can affect otherwise healthy young people. Localized aggressive periodontitis is found in teenagers and young adults and mainly affects the first molars and incisors. The severe loss of bone characterizes it, and ironically, patients generally form very little dental plaque or calculus.

Generalized aggressive periodontitis may begin around puberty and involve the entire mouth. It is marked by inflammation of the gums and heavy accumulations of plaque and calculus. Eventually, it can cause the teeth to become loose.

As with adults, periodontitis associated with systemic disease occurs in children and adolescents. Conditions that make children more susceptible to periodontal disease include:

Type I Diabetes
Down Syndrome
Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome

For example, in a 263 Type I diabetics survey, 11 to 18 years of age, 10 percent had overt periodontitis. Four basic signs will alert you to periodontal disease in your child:

Bleeding - Bleeding gums during tooth brushing, flossing, or other times. This is caused by toxins created by bacteria that irritate the gums, making them tender and bleeding.
Puffiness - Swollen and bright red gums
Recession - Gums that have receded away from the teeth, exposing the roots
Bad breath - Constant bad breath that does not clear up with brushing and flossing