Periodontitis is chronic inflammatory gum disease. Bacterial microorganisms and lack of dental care are its common causes. The result is a severe gum infection that damages the soft tissue. If left untreated, periodontitis can destroy the bone that supports your teeth, loosen your teeth, and causes tooth loss. In other words, it damages your periodontium, which comprises all the parts that hold the tooth in the jawbone. These include the bone, the gum (gingiva), the anchoring fibres, and the anchoring structure on the root surface (cementum). A person with good oral health has periodontium surrounding the entire root.
What are the symptoms of periodontitis?
In most cases, periodontitis begins with a plaque in your mouth and advances with poor dental care. Here are a few symptoms to know if it is time to seek periodontics treatment.
- Puffy or swollen gums
- Purplish, raw pink, or bright red gums
- Bleeding and tenderness in gums
- Blood spots on the toothbrush while or after brushing
- Pus between your teeth and gums
- Bad breath
- Pain while chewing
- Loose teeth or loss of teeth
- Gap developing between your teeth
- Receding gums