Scary Stories: The Effects of Periodontal Disease
Take a quick look in your mouth. All may seem well inside, but all along the gum line a silent and extremely dangerous disease could be lurking – periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease isn’t some spooky story or myth made up by the dental community to encourage you to brush, floss and schedule regular checkups. It is a real disease that if left untreated could harm your oral health as well as your overall health.
Avoid experiencing future health and dental problems by learning more about periodontal disease. Learning more about this disease can help you protect your oral and overall health.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is a severe form of gum disease that occurs when dangerous plaque starts to grow under your gums. When this happens, your gums become extremely inflamed and irritated. Once the plaque starts to grow under the gum line, it puts you at risk for developing numerous health problems.
These health problems occur because the toxins and bacteria that are present in the plaque can go directly into your bloodstream and spread throughout your body.
People don’t just wake up one morning and discover they have periodontal disease. It usually starts with a mild form of gum disease known as gingivitis. Gingivitis is mild inflammation and swelling of the gums. It is extremely easy to treat with regular brushing and flossing, as well as professional cleanings from your local dentist.
If gingivitis is left untreated, the gum disease will progress into periodontal disease. Once this happens the only way to treat it is with other more intense treatment options such as scaling and root planning or surgical options.
Periodontal disease that is left untreated can cause a number of problems including:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Strokes
- Missing or lost teeth
- Bone loss
- Arthritis
Scary Fact: You Could Have Periodontal Disease and Not Know It
One of the scariest things about periodontal disease is that you could have it and not know it. Periodontal disease is often called a “silent” disease because there are very few symptoms associated with it especially in the early stages of the disease. Symptoms don’t appear until periodontal disease has progressed into the advanced stages.
Periodontal disease’s lack of symptoms makes it a deceptive disease. People often think they have healthy teeth and gums because they aren’t experiencing any noticeable problems when in reality they have periodontal disease that is in need of treatment.
How to Avoid Problems from Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is easier to treat in the early stages. However, because it is so hard to detect people often don’t seek treatment for it until it has progressed to the advanced stages. That is why it is recommended that you schedule regular routine examinations with your dentist.
Dentists can often spot signs of periodontal disease that often go unnoticed by most people. This allows people to seek treatment before periodontal disease can cause any serious problems.
Scheduling regular routine examinations with your dentist is the first step you can take to avoiding problems caused by periodontal disease. The second step you can – and must – take is to follow through with any treatment recommendations your dentist provides.
The treatment that is recommended will depend upon the severity of your periodontal disease. Early stage periodontal disease may be able to be treated by your general dentist. However, if you have a history of periodontal disease or it is in the advanced stages you may need to see a specialist. A periodontist will not only treat advanced-stage periodontal disease but will work with you to come up with ways to prevent it from causing problems in the future.
Has your dentist told you that you have periodontal disease? Call Vero VIP Implants & Periodontics to schedule an appointment to speak with an experienced periodontist. Our experienced periodontist will assess your individual case and come up with personalized treatment options that will help you improve the health of your teeth and gums. Call us today to schedule an appointment.