It is important to understand what gum disease is, how it starts and how it is treated. It is also important to know what the outcome is if gum disease is left untreated. When relating to gum diseases, you will commonly hear other terms of this disease called periodontal disease, periodontitis and gingivitis.

Gingivitis is the first stage in periodontal disease. It is caused many times by poor hygiene habits. The good news is it is treatable during this stage with regular dental cleanings and proper oral healthcare at home.

There are many factors that cause gingivitis; some are preventable and others, we have no control over. Some causes are smoking, diabetes, aging, genetic predisposition, puberty, substance abuse and some medications.

Oftentimes, gingivitis does not cause enough discomfort for the patient to understand that when their gums bleed easily, become red or swollen, that these are warning signs to a more serious gum disease.

If gingivitis is left untreated, it leads to periodontitis. This is caused by allowing plaque to build up on the teeth and beneath the gum line. Plaque is comprised of bacteria, which produces a toxic substance that irritates the gums.

Again, periodontitis may not have very many symptoms, yet the tissue and bones that support healthy teeth are actually being broken down and destroyed when gum disease is present. The gums recede, causing small pockets to form and infection sets in. This process continues until the teeth finally become loose and will need to be extracted.

Many people do not realize there are a couple of forms of periodontitis that happen most often with the patient:

* Aggressive periodontitis, which is as the name applies; usually due to genetics and happens very quickly
* Chronic periodontitis is a slow progression of the disease
* Systemic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and respiratory disease are often causes of periodontitis that start at a young age
* Necrotizing periodontal disease is usually associated with patients who suffer from HIV infections, suppression of the immune system and malnutrition, as seen so often in most third world countries.

Risk factors in descending order of gum disease include:

* Plaque build-up
* Age
* Smoking
* Genetics
* Stress
* Medications
* Teeth grinding
* Systemic diseases
* Unhealthy nutrition

Many patients tend to avoid problems that arise with their teeth until they can no longer deal with the pain. The reasons may be due to finances or dental phobias.

You no longer have to worry about these concerns. At Emergency Dental Care in Roseville, serving Sacramento and the surrounding areas, our dentists provide dental emergency treatments with almost any insurance company. Our staff will assist you by processing and billing your insurance company. If you do not have insurance, you can apply for CareCredit to help with the costs.

We also put our patient’s fears to rest with our caring and gentle team of dentists offering relaxation methods for patients.

If you have a dental emergency arise, don’t suffer in agony. Call us for an immediate appointment at Emergency Dental Care.

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