Smoking may be responsible for almost 75% of periodontal (gum) diseases among adults. Tobacco products damage your gum tissue by affecting the attachment of bone and soft tissue to your teeth. An example of the effect is receding gums. A receding gum line exposes the tooth roots and increases your risk of developing a sensitivity to hot and cold, or tooth decay in these unprotected areas.
Periodontal Diseases
With periodontal disease, a serious disease of the gums, there can be bleeding of the gums, redness, inflammation, separation of the gum from the teeth, infections and sometimes loosened teeth. Left untreated, gum disease can eventually lead to loss of bone and teeth.
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 2 Answers
Gum disease is an inflammation of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. If it is severe, it can destroy the tissue and bone. This can lead to tooth loss.
Your teeth are covered with plaque. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on the teeth. You can remove plaque by brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning once a day between your teeth with floss or another interdental cleaner.
Plaque that is not removed can harden into calculus (tartar). When tartar forms above and below the gumline, it becomes harder to brush and clean well between teeth. The buildup of plaque and tartar can lead to gum disease.
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 3 AnswersGum recession, when the gums shrink or pull away from the teeth, can happen to people of all ages. Sometimes it happens even if a person takes good care of his or her teeth. Gum recession can cause problems for your oral health.
If you have gum recession, your dentist can help you understand the causes and recommend a treatment. If the gums have become unattached from the tooth, it is important to treat gum recession otherwise it is likely to get worse.- If your gum recession is due to brushing too hard, your dentist can show you a better way to clean your teeth.
- If the recession is due to gum disease, the first step usually involves a special cleaning called scaling and root planing, which removes plaque and tartar deposits on the tooth and root surfaces. The scaling and root planing helps gum tissues heal. For many patients, this treatment, plus excellent oral care with regular dental checkups, can help stop periodontal disease and gum loss.
- If the recession is advanced, a gum graft may be needed. A graft is when a thin piece of gum tissue is taken from another place in the patient's mouth and attached to the place where the gum tissue has receded. Once the graft heals, it covers the exposed tooth root. Tissue grafts may be done to protect one tooth or several teeth. Grafts protect the tooth root from sensitivity and decay and can also be used to make a smile look better. If you have a gum graft, your dentist will tell you how to care for your gums.
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American Diabetes Association answeredSee All 3 AnswersGum disease can start at any age. Children and teenagers who have diabetes are at greater risk for gum disease than those who don't have diabetes. -
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Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answeredPeriodontal disease is one of the main causes of edentulism. Periodontal disease is a condition that affects the mouth and is commonly found in the elderly. Periodontal disease can eat away at your teeth and gums causing decay. If periodontal disease does enough damage to a tooth, the tooth will either fall out, or require removal by a dentist. This results in edentulism. Careful treatment of periodontal disease can help you to avoid edentulism. -
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Dr. Todd A. Welch, DMD , Periodontics, answeredIt depends on the periodontist that you see. Many periodontists offer in-office or other forms of financing such as Care Credit. These financing companies offer many reasonable financing options such as 12 months no interest. My advice would be to speak with your particular periodontist or dentist office and ask these questions. -
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RealAge answeredThese four signs indicate that your child may have periodontal disease:- Bleeding gums during eating, brushing, or flossing
- Bad breath that is not fixed by brushing, flossing, or use of mouthwash
- Puffy, swollen, red gums
- Receding gums, to the point where you can see the roots of teeth
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RealAge answeredSee All 3 AnswersThe treatment options for receding gums (gum tissue that pulls away from the teeth because of severe periodontitis) include:
- Deep cleaning through scaling and root planing to remove plaque and get rid of rough spots on the tooth roots.
- Gum flap surgery to lift back the gums and remove tartar. The gums are then sutured in place to fit snugly around the tooth.
- Bone and tissue grafts to replace tissue destroyed by periodontitis.
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American Dental Association answeredSee All 2 AnswersIt is normal for gums to recede as we age. However, as we age, the nerves inside our teeth become smaller and less sensitive. By the time you feel pain from a cavity, it may be too late and you may lose your tooth. It can also lead to gum disease, which does not always cause pain until the advanced stages of the disease.
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RealAge answeredWhen your gums recede or pull away from your tooth because of gum disease, they usually will not grow back naturally. When you have bacteria in the plaque around your teeth (gingivitis), this can lead to inflammation of the gums that causes your gums to recede. If untreated, this condition can lead to more advanced inflammation that can cause your gums to pull away so much that spaces or pockets are formed.
If your gums are only mildly receded, your dentist may be able to treat your gums by a deep cleaning, also called tooth scaling and root planing. In this cleaning, tartar and plaque that have built up below the gum line is removed and the exposed root area is smoothed. If the pockets remain deep and inflamed after this treatment, surgery may be the only solution to put the gums back into place, securely around the tooth.