What Causes Periodontitis?

Receiving a periodontal disease diagnosis or recognizing periodontitis symptoms can be a scary situation to find yourself in. Also known as gum disease, periodontitis is a severe gum infection that hurts the soft tissues surrounding your teeth. Dental check-ups for gum disease and treating periodontitis are essential to preventing the disease from destroying the bone tissue supporting your teeth. Left untreated, this disease can result in loose or lost teeth. Fortunately, gum disease prevention is often possible.

The importance of dental hygiene can’t be overstated if you want to prevent gum disease and improve oral health. Poor oral hygiene and periodontitis often go hand in hand, but there are other periodontitis risk factors that you should be aware of, including genetic factors in periodontitis. Anything that lets bacteria accumulate on your teeth gives them time to get underneath your gum line. From there, the bacteria can start eroding supportive tissues, resulting in infections and loss of teeth and bone tissue.

Dental care and gum disease offer ways to deal with symptoms such as persistent bad breath, bleeding, and swollen gums. Proactive measures reverse the attacks on the very foundation of your teeth and include removing plaque buildup around your gum line.

Defining Periodontitis

Periodontitis starts as a severe infection. Over time, it hurts the soft tissue surrounding your teeth. Eventually, it can even destroy the very bones supporting your teeth. When gum disease isn’t treated, it can make teeth loose. They can also fall out entirely. The impact on your overall health is far from healthy.

Gum disease has many symptoms. Gums that are receding, bleeding, red, or swollen are potential indicators. Loose teeth, bad breath, and heavy bleeding are other possible warning signs.

Proper oral hygiene habits can reduce your risk of developing gum disease. Floss once a day and use an antibacterial mouthwash. Brush using fluoride toothpaste two to three times each day. Don’t smoke or use tobacco. Visit a dentist every six months for an exam and professional cleaning.

Periodontitis has several distinct stages based on how severe its progression is. Stage 1 is the initial phase, where gum inflammation first turns destructive. Stage 2 is a moderate progression with potentially permanent damage; your dental professional is more likely to identify and diagnose periodontitis in this phase. Stage 3 is severe and has a real possibility of tooth loss. Stage 4 is also severe, but with the potential loss of all teeth, patients might already lose teeth while the rest are loose.

Primary Causes of Periodontitis

The primary cause of gum disease is plaque buildup due to inferior oral hygiene. Plaque is a sticky film comprised of bacteria. It occurs on the surfaces of your teeth when mouth bacteria interact with sugars and starches from foods you eat. When left alone, plaque might harden. Bacteria can get underneath your gum line where flossing and brushing can’t reach it. There, it erodes support tissues in ways that cause infections and tooth and bone loss.

Bacteria can cause gum inflammation as they accumulate on teeth. As they harden, they can start making your bums bleed, swell, or turn red. If they spread to your bones, chewing food can become painful.

Risk Factors Contributing to Periodontitis

Genetic predispositions can make gum disease more likely or severe in many people, but certain pre-existing medical conditions are also risk factors. Diabetes and gum disease are common co-occurrences in many patients. AIDS, osteoporosis, and metabolic syndrome are other notable diseases that pose serious risk factors for the development of gum disease.

Age is one risk factor you can’t do anything about, but you might be able to manage stress, obesity, poor nutrition, and vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin B12, in particular, is crucial for healing wounds and healthy blood cells. Poor oral hygiene and habits are huge risk factors for periodontitis, so brush, floss, rinse, and see your dentist regularly.

Smoking and periodontitis do not get along. All forms of tobacco are typically the most significant risk factor for gum disease, and they all make treatment less useful. Chewing tobacco is also very closely related in how much it makes gum disease more likely and treatment less successful. Many forms of recreational drug use run the same risks.

The Impact of Oral Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene habits can result in gum disease because of plaque and tartar build-up. Once bacteria gets under the gum line, it can start forming periodontal pockets. With time, these pockets get deeper and start filling with more bacteria, tartar, and plaque. The bacteria in these pockets can emit toxins that aggravate inflammation and expedite the destruction of bone and gum tissue.

Hormonal Changes and Periodontitis

Hormonal changes and gum health are frequently related. Oral contraceptives, menopause, puberty, pregnancy, and menstruation are all known to make gums increasingly sensitive to plaque and other irritants. There is a heightened risk of inflammation and infection of the gums in all these cases.

These kinds of changes impact the available blood supply that your gums rely on and influence how your body responds to plaque accumulation. Progesterone and estrogen are two hormones that boost the blood supply to your mouth’s gums, so the gum tissue is more likely to swell or bleed. Estrogen can promote gum inflammation, while progesterone can impact how vascular gums are and put them at risk of the same inflammation.

Medications That Affect Gum Health

Medications affecting gums are common and can result in gum ulcers, bleeding, and inflammation. Dry mouth medications include painkillers, antacids, antihistamines, and antidepressants. Oral bacteria thrive in a dry mouth. Other medications, such as calcium channel blockers, cyclosporine, and phenytoin, can cause overgrowth and swelling. Medications with additional sugar can leave sugar residue on teeth, leading to decay.

Some patients resort to drastic solutions, such as cutting off the use of these medications. It’s crucial to think of ways of managing side effects rather than forego potentially essential medications. Talk to your pharmacist and doctor about any side effects of medications you’re taking to find ways to prevent issues.

Other Contributing Factors

Stress and periodontal disease often go hand in hand. Bruxism and periodontitis are also another common pairing.

Research studies have shown how stress can be a factor in gum disease starting and progressing. Chronic stress makes the immune system weaker, so infections happen more often. Stressed-out individuals might also be more likely to struggle with maintaining oral hygiene habits, and stress can negate the natural flow of saliva into your mouth. Dry mouth is a condition where saliva isn’t as present to protect from infections, wash out food particles, and neutralize acids. Stress can also trigger the release of the cortisol hormone, further impacting the immune system.

Bruxism is the grinding or clenching of teeth, often during sleep. It’s a common cause of tooth loss and gum recession due to soft tissue damage. It can result in loose teeth and bacterial pockets that destroy supporting bone tissue.

Diagnosis and Early Detection

Gum disease can be diagnosed using clinical symptoms and signs, including tissue destruction and inflammation. Clinical observation, periodontal probing, and radiography can check everything from loose teeth and gum color to calculus deposits and restoration margins. Diagnostic tools range from visual inspections inside the mouth to technology verifying periodontal bone levels.

However, these diagnostic techniques can only be used if you get regular dental check-ups. Finding a dentist who is effective in diagnosing and treating gum disease and who you are comfortable with is crucial to preventing or managing gum disease.

Prevention and Management

Effective oral hygiene habits are your best bet in managing your gum disease condition. Use fluoride toothpaste when brushing two to three times daily, including your tongue, when removing food debris and plaque. An antibacterial mouthwash and flossing should both happen once a day. Don’t smoke or use tobacco products.

Vitamin C helps prevent periodontal disease or slow the progression of it. A healthy diet should focus on lean proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of fruits and veggies. Don’t eat lots of starches or foods high in sugar.

See your dentist every six months. They can prevent many problems and manage others while they’re still small. Professional cleanings can remove the things that accumulate and turn into gum disease.

Southland Dental Care Can Help

Periodontitis in Sherman Oaks can result from poor lifestyle habits, failing to practice proper oral hygiene, and skipping dentist visits. Fortunately, Southland Dental Care gum disease treatment is possible and can preserve or restore your mouth’s health and wellness. If you want to see how healthy your mouth and gums are and what can be done to improve them, schedule a consultation with us at Southland Dental Care as soon as possible.