Maintaining oral health goes beyond just brushing and flossing daily. Two of the most common gum-related issues, gingivitis and periodontitis, can have serious impacts on your dental health if left untreated. While both conditions involve gum inflammation, they vary in severity and long-term consequences.
With a bit of crossover between symptoms, learning to identify the key differences between both can be difficult. However, understanding these differences is essential for ensuring you seek and receive proper dental care. If you believe you may be dealing with gingivitis or periodontitis and want to learn more about the key symptoms of each, keep reading.
What is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease. It is characterized by sensitive or swollen gums, gums that bleed easily when brushing and flossing, and bright or dark red gums. Many dental patients might not think much of these initial symptoms. However, if gingivitis is left untreated, it can quickly lead to more significant periodontal health issues, including the development of advanced periodontal disease, tooth decay and infection, and tooth loss.
Most often, dental patients develop gingivitis as a result of inadequate or improper oral health habits. It occurs when plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, builds up along the gumline. If plaque is not removed through proper oral hygiene, it can irritate the gums.
The good news is that gingivitis is reversible with consistent and proper care. You should brush twice daily and floss once a day to remove any bacteria, plaque, tartar, and food particles that may be stuck between your teeth. Failing to remove this debris can lead to infection and irritation of the tissue in your mouth, and inevitable gingivitis.
What is Periodontitis?
Periodontitis is a much more extreme form of gum disease. One of the clearest signs that an individual has periodontitis is dark red, purple, or brown gums. When dealing with periodontitis, patients have gums that bleed easily, chronic bad breath, and, in more extreme cases, pus between their teeth.
Much like those who have gingivitis, individuals who continue to ignore the signs of severe gum disease can expect tooth loss, receding gums, changes in their bite, and painful chewing. However, a dental patient who develops this disease may deal with more serious damage to their teeth and the surrounding structures.
This problem often occurs as a result of months or years of improper oral hygiene. As plaque develops under the gum line, it causes your gum tissue to become swollen and irritated. This causes deep pockets to form in your gums, creating the perfect place for bacteria to fester and eat away at your teeth and jawbone.
The Key Differences
There are a few key differences between gingivitis and periodontitis, including:
- Severity: Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease, while periodontitis is a more severe and advanced stage.
- Reversibility: Gingivitis can be reversed with proper oral hygiene, whereas periodontitis causes permanent damage to the gum tissues and bones if not treated.
- Symptoms: Gingivitis often causes mild symptoms, such as gum redness and bleeding during brushing. Periodontitis, on the other hand, can result in gum recession, loose teeth, and even tooth loss.
- Impact on Teeth: Gingivitis doesn’t affect the structures supporting the teeth. In contrast, periodontitis destroys the bone and tissue that hold your teeth in place.
Treatment for Periodontal Disease
Treating gingivitis is straightforward, involving improved oral hygiene practices and regular dental cleanings. However, treating periodontitis requires more intensive interventions. Some treatment options for periodontitis include:
- Scaling and Root Planing: This treatment involved your dental team removing plaque and tartar below the gum line, smoothing the roots to prevent further bacteria buildup.
- Medications: Antibiotics or antiseptic mouthwashes may be prescribed to control infection and prevent it from impacting any more teeth than it has already touched.
- Surgery: In severe cases, surgery like flap surgery or bone grafts may be necessary to repair the damage caused by periodontitis.
Consistent follow-ups with your dentist are essential to monitor the progression of the disease and ensure proper healing.
Comprehensive Periodontal Care in Hendersonville
Whether you are dealing with gingivitis or periodontitis, it is essential that you work with a team of expert dental professionals. With their support, you can trust that any minor oral health issues receive appropriate treatment before they lead to more major problems, like tooth loss, serious infection, or bone damage.
If you’re looking for a dental team in the Hendersonville, North Carolina, area to help you deal with periodontal disease, turn to our team at Hendersonville Family Dental. For years, our team of experts has helped patients reach and maintain their best oral health possible. From regular cleanings to scaling, root planing, and more, our team will do whatever they can to help you protect your teeth.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with our team to begin treating your periodontal disease, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
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