Gum disease is swelling, soreness or infection of the tissues supporting the teeth.
There are two main forms of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontal disease. Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums. This is when the gums around the teeth become very red and swollen. Often the swollen gums bleed when they are brushed during cleaning. Long-standing gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease. There are a number of types of periodontal disease and they all affect the tissues supporting the teeth. As the disease gets worse the bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw is lost, making the teeth loose. If this is not treated, the teeth may eventually fall out.
Periodontal treatments vary from simple cleaning to grafting to restore missing tissue. Your dentist will advise you accordingly but the most important thing will always remain good oral health care at home.
