Periodontitis (per-e-o-don-TIE-tis), also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth . Periodontitis can cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss.
What happens if you leave gum disease untreated?
The Risks of Untreated Gum Disease
Avoiding treatment for periodontitis can cause gaps in your teeth, receding gums, sensitive teeth, mouth sores, chronic bad breath, and tooth loss . Gum disease has also been connected to an array of serious health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and more.
What affects periodontal disease has on my overall health?
Periodontitis has been associated with serious health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Not taking good care of your teeth and gums can lead to more than bad breath or a toothache. While the nature of the link isn’t always clear, oral health can say a lot about your overall well-being .
Can gum disease make you tired?
If we suffer from gum disease or oral infections, the blood vessels are used to transport the pathogens to different parts of the body. This means that the longer the disease is present, the more likely it is for it to start affecting other organs, causing you to feel tired and worn out .
What does the start of gum disease look like?
A person with gum disease will typically have one or more of the following signs and symptoms: Bright red, swollen gums that bleed very easily, even during brushing or flossing . Bad taste or persistent mouth odor. White spots or plaques on the gums.
What are the 4 stages of periodontal disease?
- Stage 1: Gingivitis. ...
- Stage 2: Slight Periodontal Disease. ...
- Stage 3: Moderate Periodontal Disease. ...
- Stage 4: Advanced Periodontal Disease. ...
- What are the symptoms of periodontal disease?
Is gum disease fatal?
Aside from increasing the likelihood that you could lose teeth, gum disease can actually kill you . It increases your chances of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. If you have any of the symptoms below, then you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Can gum infection be serious?
Periodontitis is a severe gum infection that can lead to tooth loss and other serious health complications . Periodontitis (per-e-o-don-TIE-tis), also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth.
Does gum disease shorten my life?
The new study only shows an association between oral health and premature death, cautions Michael J. LaMonte, lead author of the study and a research associate professor at the University at Buffalo in New York. The research does not show gum disease or tooth loss cause early death .
Can gum disease affect other parts of your body?
Did you know that gum disease isn’t just bad news for your teeth, it’s also linked to serious health problems in other parts of your body ? Gum disease may increase your risk of all kinds of other health complications, including stroke, diabetes and heart disease.
Can periodontitis make you feel sick?
Fever, Chills, Bleeding Gums: Potential Periodontal Disease. As we mentioned when discussing dental abscesses, oral infections can present with flu-like symptoms . This holds true when you experience periodontal disease, also called gum disease.
How does a gum infection make you feel?
Symptoms of a dental abscess
Symptoms of an abscess in your tooth or gum may include: an intense throbbing pain in the affected tooth or gum that may come on suddenly and gets gradually worse . pain that spreads to your ear, jaw and neck on the same side as the affected tooth or gum.
Can gum disease be cured?
So how do I cure gum disease? Gum disease can be cured . Essentially, it’s all about removing bacteria from your mouth and allowing the gums to heal back to a healthy state. If you want to get rid of gum disease, the first step is to get the right education so that you know how to clean your teeth effectively at home.
Can gum disease cause shortness of breath?
Periodontal Disease, Heart Disease and Stroke
This causes the arteries to narrow, constricting blood flow. Oxygen is restricted from traveling to the heart which results in shortness of breath , chest pain and even heart attack.
What does gum disease smell like?
The damaging bacteria causing Periodontitis are called anaerobes; they have a distinct odor known in the dental industry as “ perio breath .” Quite frankly, it smells like death because it sets up a chronic disease in which vital bone starts to die off.
Can gum cause pain?
Toothaches are common but can be caused by anything from common tooth decay to serious gum infections. Toothaches are a symptom of gingivitis and can cause immense pain and aggravation .
What are the 5 stages of periodontal disease?
- First Signs. In the very early stages of gum disease, your teeth will seem basically healthy. ...
- Gingivitis. ...
- Early Periodontitis. ...
- Moderate Periodontitis. ...
- Advanced Periodontitis.
Can a dentist fix periodontal disease?
Your dentist can help catch early signs of gingivitis at your regular cleanings and checkups. In most cases, you can cure gum in this stage. However, as the disease progresses and reaches periodontitis, it can’t be cured, only treated.
Does gum disease go away when teeth are removed?
Does gum disease go away after a tooth is removed? If tooth loss is inevitable, often the best step is to have it extracted. However, gum disease will not just up and disappear once a tooth is lost or removed . Left untreated, it will continue to grow and spread, potentially causing the loss of more teeth.
What does periodontal pain feel like?
They cause a dull, gnawing, localized pain but are not painful to percussion . The discomfort ranges from low intensity aches to severe acute pain. Periodontal abscesses may be tender to lateral periodontal pressure and the pain in the tooth adjacent to the injury usually worsens with chewing.
How long can you live with periodontitis?
Periodontitis can last forever if you never see a dentist to have it treated . Likewise, as long as periodontitis is left untreated, the disease will progress and worsen. If you have the symptoms of periodontitis, it is recommended that you see a dentist as soon as possible.
Can you live a normal life with gum disease?
Living with periodontal disease can cause aesthetic complications and bone loss of a serious nature. Unlike other injuries, periodontal disease does not cause any pain. It is a silent disease when the teeth gum becomes inflamed and bleeds.
How long before gingivitis turns into periodontitis?
Slight Periodontal Disease
During the early gingivitis stages, gum inflammation can occur in as little as five days. Within two to three weeks , the signs of generalized gingivitis become more noticeable. If you still leave this untreated, it would progress to slight periodontal disease.
What are the symptoms of a tooth infection spreading?
- Feeling Unwell. The first thing you may notice is that you start to feel unwell. ...
- Fever. Fever is your body’s natural defense against infection. ...
- Swelling. ...
- Increased Heart and Breathing Rate. ...
- Dehydration and Stomach Pain.
Can gum infection spread?
A tooth infection or “tooth abscess” is a collection of pus and bacteria that forms inside the tooth or gum. Without proper treatment, tooth infections can spread to other areas of the body , and this can lead to serious and potentially life threatening complications.
