What Happens If Periodontal Disease Isn't Treated?
Posted on 11/21/2022 by Ronald Watkins |
 Periodontitis is an infection that attacks the gum tissue, resulting in poor oral and overall health. People with this infection have an increased likelihood of having dementia, stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic and serious health issues. Periodontal disease, left unchecked, will ultimately progress and get more problematic. There are four phases of gum disease, which are:
Gingivitis
The early stage is known as gingivitis and is usually less severe compared to periodontitis. A person with gingivitis experiences swollen, red gums. Luckily, gingivitis is reversible if you are able to clean the teeth better and make trips to a dentist for professional cleanings of the mouth, teeth, and gums.
Mild Periodontitis
Gingivitis turns into less severe periodontitis or mild periodontitis. During this phase of the infection, the gums begin to detach from the teeth. Also, lose bone is lost around the teeth. You develop what is known as periodontal pockets. As a result, bacteria, tartar, and plaque get lodged and trapped in the pockets, making it difficult for toothbrushes and floss to reach and remove them.
Moderate Periodontitis
In this stage, you have more bone loss around your teeth. Additionally, bacteria continue to damage and erode the soft tissues and ligaments supporting the teeth. The gums become tender and sore.
Severe Periodontitis
With untreated periodontitis, it gets more severe. With persistent bone loss, your teeth loosen up and could fall out. Besides bleeding gums, pus forms around the gumline, leading to halitosis or chronic bad breath.
Treatment of periodontitis will mostly depend on the stage of the disease and the damage it has caused. It is paramount to realize that in advanced stages, periodontitis is not curable. However, our dental team can manage it. Visit us if you have signs indicating gum disease or periodontitis. Treating gum disease early on is the only way you can eliminate it. Otherwise, if it has progressed, we work relentlessly to stop its progression.
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