Periodontal Disease Stages: How It Develops To Advanced Phase
There are four different periodontal disease stages that dentists always look into in disease treatment procedures. Periodontal disease can be categorized as gingivitis (first stage), slight periodontal disease (second stage), moderate periodontal disease (third stage), and advanced periodontal disease (last stage). Periodontic treatments are available for each stage but only gingivitis is the only gum disease that’s reversible.
Understanding Periodontal Disease
What exactly is periodontal disease? According to dentists, this is mainly a gum disease that is caused by infections and inflammation of the gums and all the dental elements that support the teeth. Signs and symptoms may not be noticeable in the early stage but it could cause a grave threat to dental health if left neglected.
Dental professionals call it periodontal disease when the condition turns severe and crucial. When this occurs, the gums will start to pull away from teeth and bones that might eventually result in tooth loss.
The reason why gum disease occurs is because of the infection caused by bacteria in the mouth. When the bacteria stays for a long period of time within the mouth, plaque will start to form until it becomes hardened tartar or calculus. The calculus will slowly spread throughout the gum line and start infecting all that surrounds it.
Signs and Symptoms
You might be at risk of periodontal or gum disease if you are exhibiting the following symptoms:
- Foul breath odor or unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Gums are swelling and are turning red
- Bleeding gums
- A painful sensation when biting or chewing
- A tooth is starting to get loose
- Teeth sensitivity
- Teeth roots are starting to show
- Changes in your biting ability
- Dentures are not securely fitted anymore
If you are experiencing this, go to the dental office immediately and seek gum disease treatment as soon as possible.
Reasons Why Periodontal Disease Progress
Periodontal disease does not show up overnight. It is the result of unhealthy habits, chronic diseases, and poor oral hygiene. Some of the factors that contribute to its development include:
- Diabetes
- Hormonal changes
- Genetics
- Stress
- Smoking
- Untreated chipped or crooked teeth
- Immunodeficiency eg. AIDS/HIV
- Damaged fillings
- Broken dentures
- Medications
If you wish to avoid any kind of disease treatment, make sure to observe proper oral care and regular visits to the dental office.
Periodontal Disease Stages
Gum disease could develop into periodontal disease over time, most especially if the oral care regimen is not strictly observed. Let us discuss the four stages of periodontal disease and how each one of these can affect your dental health.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the first stage and is the only one that can be reversed since the disease hasn’t damaged the bones at this point yet. Unfortunately, it’s not always easily noticed because of its very few and painless signs. This is the reason why periodontal diseases progress to a much more critical and irreversible stage. It’s not uncommon for gum disease to show signs at the third or last stage where a loose tooth is typically impossible to save. THis is why it is crucial to get treatment on time.
Slight Periodontal Disease
If gingivitis is untreated, it will progress to the second stage which is slight periodontal disease. At this point, the results caused by gum disease is no longer reversible but are manageable. during the second stage, the bacterial infection has already found its way to the bone and began its destructive process. When the bacteria reach the bone, it will become more forceful, this is the stage where regular oral health care will no longer be helpful. Bleeding gums and bad breath among other symptoms will start to show up.
Moderate Periodontal Disease
The third stage is called moderate periodontal disease where the gums are noticeably pulling away from the teeth. This is also the stage where the bacteria will start to infect not only your gums and teeth but your bloodstream and immune system altogether. The third stage needs immediate disease treatment as it poses many threats to your overall health and may even put you at risk of serious conditions. Slight and moderate periodontal diseases can be treated by dental planing and rooting. These treatments will remove the hardened tartar and clean up the deep roots of your teeth.
Advanced Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease can be deemed crucial and critical once it reaches the last and final stage which is the advanced periodontal disease. When the gum disease gets to this point, the bacteria have already manifested themselves deeply and may have already caused serious infections that can harm the health of the patient. 
This is the stage where you will most likely lose a tooth or more and experience distressing symptoms like extreme pain, severe tooth sensitivity, and halitosis. As a result, you might need dental surgery or dental laser therapy to clean and remove the bacteria that are deeply rooted within your gums.
The stages of periodontal disease might be a frightening situation to be in but thankfully, dental professionals are always finding new ways to provide disease treatment that can be safe and effective for everyone.
Preventing Gum Disease
Just like other diseases, there are many ways to avoid gum disease and maintain your oral health. It’s always better to prevent diseases from taking place rather than going through a series of expensive and time-consuming treatments. Go to www.boutiquedentalcare.com.au to read about gum disease stages and tips for prevention.
To ensure the health of your gums and teeth, follow the tips listed below:
- Brush your teeth regularly.
- Use dental floss and mouthwash.
- Examine your entire mouth.
- Visit your dentist regularly.
