Gum disease, if left untreated, can cause tooth loss and affect your overall health. It also allows bacteria to enter your bloodstream and contribute to coronary artery disease, stroke, lung diseases and diabetes. Gum disease is almost always preventable with good oral hygiene habits, regular dental cleanings and routine exams by a dentist or dental hygienist. Mild gum disease is also reversible in the early stages.

Causes

Keeping your mouth healthy reduces the chance of gum disease. But even with good oral hygiene, most people will have some form of gum disease at some point in life. Gum disease is a serious problem that can cause permanent damage. It causes the loss of tissue and bone that holds your teeth in place. It also can lead to loose teeth, and if severe enough, tooth loss.

The first stage of gum disease is gingivitis. It is caused by bacteria that collect on teeth and along the gum line. These bacteria produce toxins that irritate and inflame the gum tissue. They can harden into a sticky substance called plaque, and then into tartar (also known as calculus).

Gingivitis is easily reversed with proper dental care and regular cleanings with your dentist or dental hygienist. Good brushing, flossing and using a water pic twice daily can help remove plaque and keep your gums healthy. Other causes of gum disease include hormone changes such as during pregnancy or menopause; certain medications that can dry the mouth; a diet low in nutrients, including calcium and vitamin C; smoking; and some health problems such as diabetes.

Symptoms

Gum disease symptoms include red, puffy gums that bleed easily. Other signs include bad breath that doesn’t go away, loose teeth and changes in how your teeth fit together when you bite. Gums may also pull away from the tooth, leaving a space called a sulcus. People with advanced gum disease, or periodontitis, often have lost a lot of bone and tissue around the teeth.

Gums begin to get infected when plaque (a sticky layer of bacteria) builds up on the teeth. The bacteria in the plaque make toxins that irritate and damage gum tissue. Your body tries to fight the infection by sending white blood cells to the area. This causes inflammation, which can lead to swelling, bleeding and tenderness.

Gingivitis is usually reversible with improved oral hygiene and regular cleanings by your dentist or dental hygienist. These cleanings remove the hardened plaque and tartar (calculus) that cause gum inflammation. Brush and floss every day, using a toothbrush with small heads and soft bristles, and with fluoride toothpaste. Use a floss or other tool recommended by your dental professional to clean in between your teeth.

Treatment

When people think of ways to improve their health, few consider taking better care of their teeth and gums. Yet good oral hygiene is one of the best ways to prevent or treat gum disease and other serious conditions.

Untreated gingivitis leads to the advancing stage of gum disease known as periodontitis, which damages tissue and bone. A variety of treatments can reverse the damage caused by this severe condition. These include antibiotics, deep scaling and root planing, surgical procedures such as flap surgery, soft tissue grafts and bone grafts.

Gum disease may be aggravated by a number of factors that include poor oral hygiene habits, smoking, certain medications, hormonal changes such as those occurring during pregnancy or menopause, vitamin deficiencies from a poorly balanced diet and diseases that lower immunity such as HIV/AIDS, leukemia or cancer treatment. Other risk factors for gum disease include a family history of the disease, and age. People over 50 have a greater incidence of gum disease than younger people.

Prevention

Practicing good oral hygiene habits—daily brushing and flossing, using a special toothbrush with soft bristles, and regular cleanings by an oral health professional—can prevent gum disease. Gingivitis is reversible in its early stages, when bacteria only affect the gum tissue and are not yet under the bone.

But if gum disease advances to periodontitis, the damage is more widespread and irreversible. The immune system reacts to the presence of bacteria by releasing toxins that destroy gum and bone tissue. Teeth may become loose and fall out, and other serious problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and pregnancy complications can occur.

Your dentist or dental hygienist will check for signs of gum disease with a metal probe that fits into the spaces between teeth (periodontal pockets), and x-rays. They may recommend more frequent professional dental cleanings to remove plaque and tartar above and below the gum line, as well as smooth the root surfaces. They may also recommend topical or oral antibiotics to control infection and reduce inflammation.