PERIODONTITIS

The ugly side of Gum Disease

Periodontal disease, also know as periodontitis, occurs when you let gingivitis deteriorate out of control.

It literally translates to ‘disease around the tooth’, but really means that you really should make a lot more effort concerning your oral hygiene.

While gingivitis is limited to inflamation of gum line, when left untreated, the bacteria work themselves ever deeper inside the gums.

Periodontal disease happens when they’ve reach the area were the gums stop and the ligaments and bone structure start.

At this point things get real ugly! If left unchecked, periodontal disease will not only cause all of your teeth to fall out, but may also provoke deadly extra oral illnesses and put a great deal of strain on your immune system.

When your defenses are overtaken by sheer number

Hidden safely inside plaque and tartar build up, the bacteria have reproduced in the tens of billions to release waves upon waves of targeted attacks deep inside your gums. With periodontal disease, this will occur all day, everyday, non stop 24h/7. Your mouth has become a battle field and you are loosing the war!

The vast numbers of bacteria continuously release toxins and acids that your immune system struggles to fight off, weakening your body and making you more fragile to other diseases and illnesses.

How much worse can it get?

Periodontitis will infect your mouth, eat at your gums, make your teeth fall out, destroy the bone structure that fixes your teeth to the jaw, and greatly weaken your immune system…there’s more?

Yes there is! The bacteria responsible for periodontal disease also has the capacity of entering blood vessels present in your mouth and travel to other parts of the body through your blood streams.

In doing so they will settle elsewhere, reproduce exponentially, and release hudge amounts of toxins!! Here are some of the known extra oral diseases they provoke:

- Heart attacks and strokes
- Pulmonary diseases
- Diabetes
- Giving birth to premature babies / low weight babies

It seems that there's no limit to the damage these little critters can do if you don't do anything to stop them.

How do I know I've got Periodontal disease?

Most people don’t have a clue as to what’s going on in their mouths. Periodontitis is a very serious illness and must not be taken lightly. All it takes is a couple minutes a week to check you mouth for any possible disorders. Here are some of the symptoms of gum disease to check for yourself:

- Persistent bad breath
- Inflamed gums
- Bleeding of the gums
- Teeth are sensitive to hot or cold
- Loose teeth
- Pain while chewing

Periodontitis can be treated, but unlike gingivitis, it cannot be reversed. If you see that you’ve already started seeing some symptoms, see your dentist immediately.