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Dr. Alan Slootsky D.M.D, M.A.G.D., F.A.C.D. Restorative Dentistry / Oral Health November 25, 2015 |
Periodontitis can be considered a group of different dental conditions all occurring at once. Some of these conditions include inflammation of the gums and structural support for the teeth. Gingivitis is usually the first aliment seen.
Periodontitis occurs when bacteria begins to attach itself to the gum line of the teeth and cause an infection to start. While your body tries to fight against this infection, it produces some substances that can actually be harmful to the mouth. They can cause damage to the jaw bone and ligaments around the teeth. If this continues, the teeth can become loose. Pockets then form between the teeth and gums and bacteria can grow and thrive in these pockets. When left untreated it can grow more severe and your teeth can fall out.
While periodontitis can be uncomfortable and lead to more serious dental problems, it usually isn’t very painful. Older adults, those with diabetes and smokers are the ones who are most likely to have periodontitis. Smoking can lead to an increase in the damage to the supporting tissue of the teeth.
Most people don’t even realize they have a dental problem because many of the symptoms are not as noticeable if you are not paying close attention. Most don’t know there is a problem until it is too late. The most common symptoms for periodontitis include:
- Red, swollen or bleeding gums
- Receding gums
- Loose teeth
- Bad breath
- An unpleasant taste in the mouth
Periodontitis
For further information about this topic, or any other dental topic, contact Dr Slootsky at info@drslootsky.com, or call 954-972-1000. Dr. Alan Slootsky is a dentist in Pompano Beach, Florida dedicated to bringing patients state-of-the-art dental care. As a cosmetic, family andrestorative dentist, he helps patients enjoy a natural and healthy smile. Dr. Slootsky has integrated a friendly, hands-on gentle approach with highly accurate and patient-sensitive technologies and tools to both identify and resolve problems in a timely and efficient manner. We know most people don’t like to visit the dentist. That’s why we make every effort to make your experience both as effective and as pleasant as possible.
Image: By Michele Gardini (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons