{"id":4220,"date":"2013-09-05T00:16:39","date_gmt":"2013-09-05T06:16:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/?post_type=avada_faq&#038;p=4220"},"modified":"2013-09-05T00:16:39","modified_gmt":"2013-09-05T06:16:39","slug":"how-can-i-tell-if-i-have-gingivitis-or-periodontitis-gum-disease","status":"publish","type":"avada_faq","link":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/faq-items\/how-can-i-tell-if-i-have-gingivitis-or-periodontitis-gum-disease","title":{"rendered":"How can I tell if I have gingivitis or periodontitis (gum disease)?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Four out of five people have periodontal disease and don\u2019t know it! Most people are not aware of it because the disease is usually painless in the early stages. Unlike tooth decay, which often causes discomfort, it is possible to have periodontal disease without noticeable symptoms. Having regular dental check-ups and periodontal examinations are very important and will help detect if periodontal problems exist.<\/p>\n<p>Periodontal disease begins when plaque, a sticky, colorless, film of bacteria, food debris, and saliva, is left on the teeth and gums. The bacteria produce toxins (acids) that inflame the gums and slowly destroy the bone. Brushing and flossing regularly and properly will ensure that plaque is not left behind to do its damage.<\/p>\n<p>Other than poor oral hygiene, there are several other factors that may increase the risk of developing periodontal disease:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Smoking or chewing tobacco \u2013 Tobacco users are more likely than nonusers to form plaque and tartar on their teeth.<\/li>\n<li>Certain tooth or appliance conditions \u2013 Bridges that no longer fit properly, crowded teeth, or defective fillings that may trap plaque and bacteria.<\/li>\n<li>Many medications \u2013 Steroids, cancer therapy drugs, blood pressure meds, oral contraceptives. Some medications have side effects that reduce saliva, making the mouth dry and plaque easier to adhere to the teeth and gums.<\/li>\n<li>Pregnancy, oral contraceptives, and puberty \u2013 Can cause changes in hormone levels, causing gum tissue to become more sensitive to bacteria toxins.<\/li>\n<li>Systemic diseases \u2013 Diabetes, blood cell disorders, HIV \/ AIDS, etc.<\/li>\n<li>Genetics may play role \u2013 Some patients may be predisposed to a more aggressive type of periodontitis. Patients with a family history of tooth loss should pay particular attention to their gums.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Signs and Symptoms of Periodontal Disease<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Red and puffy gums \u2013 Gums should never be red or swollen.<\/li>\n<li>Bleeding gums \u2013 Gums should never bleed, even when you brush vigorously or use dental floss.<\/li>\n<li>Persistent bad breath \u2013 Caused by bacteria in the mouth.<\/li>\n<li>New spacing between teeth \u2013 Caused by bone loss.<\/li>\n<li>Loose teeth \u2013 Also caused by bone loss or weakened periodontal fibers (fibers that support the tooth to the bone).<\/li>\n<li>Pus around the teeth and gums \u2013 Sign that there is an infection present.<\/li>\n<li>Receding gums \u2013 Loss of gum around a tooth.<\/li>\n<li>Tenderness or Discomfort \u2013 Plaque, calculus, and bacteria irritate the gums and teeth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Good oral hygiene, a balanced diet, and regular dental visits can help reduce your risk of developing periodontal disease.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Four out of five people have periodontal disease and don\u2019t know it! Most people are not aware of it because the disease is usually painless in the early stages. Unlike tooth decay, which often causes discomfort, it is possible to have periodontal disease without noticeable symptoms. Having regular dental check-ups and periodontal examinations are very important and will help detect if periodontal problems exist. Periodontal disease begins when plaque, a sticky, colorless, film of bacteria, food debris, and saliva, is left on the teeth and gums. The bacteria produce toxins (acids) that inflame the gums and slowly destroy the bone. Brushing and flossing regularly and properly will ensure that plaque is not left behind to do its damage. Other than poor oral hygiene, there are several other factors that may increase the risk of developing periodontal disease: Smoking or chewing tobacco \u2013 Tobacco users are more likely than nonusers to form plaque and tartar on their teeth. Certain tooth or appliance conditions \u2013 Bridges that no longer fit properly, crowded teeth, or defective fillings that may trap plaque and bacteria. Many medications \u2013 Steroids, cancer therapy drugs, blood pressure meds, oral contraceptives. Some medications have side effects that reduce saliva, making the mouth dry and plaque easier to adhere to the teeth and gums. Pregnancy, oral contraceptives, and puberty \u2013 Can cause changes in hormone levels, causing gum tissue to become more sensitive to bacteria toxins. Systemic diseases \u2013 Diabetes, blood cell disorders, HIV \/ AIDS, etc. Genetics may play role \u2013 Some patients may be predisposed to a more aggressive type of periodontitis. Patients with a family history of tooth loss should pay particular attention to their gums. Signs and Symptoms of Periodontal Disease [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"faq_category":[],"class_list":["post-4220","avada_faq","type-avada_faq","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/avada_faq\/4220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/avada_faq"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/avada_faq"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/avada_faq\/4220\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"faq_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/faq_category?post=4220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}