About gum disease:
What all of us have in common is the desire to feel and look good, by having beautiful smile, healthy gums and a mint fresh breath which will give us social acceptance. Bleeding gums and bad breath can cause many of …. And dear ones to shy away.

What is periodontal (gum) disease?
Periodonal (gum) disease is the most common cause of tooth loss among adults around the world. In simple words, periodontal disease is a bacterial (germ) infection that can result in tooth loss if not treated. Healthy gum tissue fits snugly around each tooth. Plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that adheres to the teeth, releases toxins and harmful substances that in turn can cause break down of gum tissues.

Who is a Periodontist?
A periodontist is a specially dentist in the field of gum disease. He is equipped with knowledge and expertises to diagnose and treat all gum problems, which could range bad breath and stained teeth aesthetic concerns of, receive gums and even mobile teeth.

What are the signs of Gum disease?
Gums that bleed during tooth brushing and flossing
Red, swollen and tender gums
Persistent bad breath
Gums that have pulled away from your teeth
Accumulation of pus between your teeth and gums
Loose or separating teeth
A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
Also a change in the fit of your partial dentures.

Types of Gum Disease

Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis and eventually lead to tooth loss and other health problems.

Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. The word periodontal literally means “around the tooth.” Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth. It begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth) causes the gum to become inflamed.

Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the mildest form the periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is usually little or on discomfort at this stage. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.


Periodontitis

Periodontitis (peri=around, don’t=tooth, -its= inflammation) refers to a number of inflammatory diseases affecting the periodontium – that is, the tissues that surround and support that teeth. Periodontitis involves progressive loss of the alveolar bone around the teeth, and if left untreated, can lead to the loosening and subsequent loss of teeth. Periodontitis is caused by bacteria that adhere to and grow on the tooth’s surfaces, along with an overly aggressive immune response against these bacteria. A diagnosis of periodontitis is established by inspecting the soft gum tissues around the teeth with a probe and radiographs by visual analysis, to determine the amount of bone loss around the teeth. Specialists in the treatment of periodontitis are periodontists; their field is known as “periodontology” and “periodontics”.

Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontits. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

There are many forms of periodontitis. The most common ones include the following.

· Aggressive peridontitis occurs in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. Common features include rapid attachment loss and bone destruction and familial aggregation.

· Chronic periodontitis result in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive attachment and bone loss. This is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis and is characterized by pocket formation and/or recession of the gingiva. It is prevalent in adult, but can occur slowly, but periods o rapid progression can occur.

· Periodontits as a manifestation of systemic diseases often begins at a young age. Systemic conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes are associated with this form of periodontitis.

· Necrotizing periodontal disease is an infection characterized by necrosis of gingival tissues, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. These lesions are most commonly observed in individuals with systemic conditions such as HIV infection, malnutrition and immunosuppressant.

Chronic Periodontitis, the most common form of the disease, progresses relatively slowly and typically becomes clinically evident in adulthood. Aggressive Periodontitis is a rarer form, but as its name implies, progresses more rapidly and becomes clinically evident in adolescence. Although the different forms of periodontitis are all caused by bacterial infections, a variety of factors affect the severity of the disease. Important “risk factors” include smoking, poorly-controlled diabetes, and inherited (genetic) susceptibility.

Epidemiology

Periodontitis is very common, and is widely regarded as the second most common disease worldwide, after dental decay, and in the United States has a prevalence of 30-50% of the population, but only about 10% have severs forms.

Studies found an association between ethnic origin and periodontal diseases. In the USA, African-Americans have a higher prevalence of periodontal disease compared with Latin individuals as well as non-Hispanic Caucasian people. In Israeli population, individuals of Yemenite, Non-African, Asian, or Mediterranean origin have higher prevalence of periodontal disease than individuals from European descent. This could be attributed to genetic predisposition as well as social- cultural- behavioral differences. (eg. smoking, oral hygiene, access to dental treatment) between populations.

Etiology

Periodontitis is an inflammation of the periodontium - the tissues that support the teeth. The periodontium consists of four tissues:

The gingiva, or gum tissue:
The cementum, or outer layer of the roots of teeth:
The alveolar bone, or the bony sockets into which the teeth are anchored:
The periodontal ligaments (PDLs), which are the connective tissue fibers run between the cementum and the alveolar bone.

A periodontist is a specially dentist in the field of gum disease. He is equipped with knowledge and expertises to diagnose and treat all gum problems, which could range bad breath and stained teeth aesthetic concerns of, receive gums and even mobile teeth.