Sarasota gum disease

Periodontal disease can sneak up on you, harming not only your gum tissue, but also posing a threat to your teeth and your bone structure. That's a lot of potential risk. Here at Russo Periodontics, we want you to know about the stages of periodontal (gum) disease, which will better prepare you to recognize the signs and act on them in a timely fashion.

Your Sarasota gum disease can always be traced back to its primary cause, which is dental plaque. This film-like bacteria, along with its hardened form, tartar, is well known as being responsible for dental decay and the cavities that result. But it also irritates, inflames, and infects your gums. Gingivitis is the early stage, and it is marked by irritation and redness. If those symptoms are mild enough, you may not notice them. However, as your Sarasota gum disease progresses to the more advanced stage of periodontitis, inflammation replaces irritation, and the likely effects are bleeding gums when you brush your teeth, bad breath on a consistent basis, and receding gums that expose your roots and make your teeth appear bigger. Chronic periodontitis typically occurs over time, and can be halted in its tracks if you get a teeth cleaning every six months. You see, when gingivitis is treated promptly, chronic periodontitis cannot result. However, aggressive periodontitis moves more rapidly. Often spurred on by external factors like smoking, or existing heart disease or diabetes, aggressive periodontitis requires immediate attention. Otherwise, infection may set in, which is when gum and bone start to erode, with loose teeth following soon after. There is also a stage called necrotizing periodontal disease, in which the outcome is dead tissue.

Your Sarasota gum disease deserves treatment by our expert periodontist, and it's important to not delay. Just contact our office and we will set up an appointment for you at the earliest possible time.

By Russo Periodontics

January 29, 2019