What Are The Symptoms Of Periodontitis

 Symptoms of Periodontitis:

• Swollen, tender, red gums
• Gums that recede from the teeth
• new spaces appearing between teeth
• pus coming from teeth and gums
• bad breath
• bad taste in the mouth
• teeth falling out, becoming loose, shifting in the mouth

But it gets worse. This is where that “can kill you” business shows its ugly head. Those insidious, under-the-gum infections are very dangerous. Any infection of the bone can cause disfiguring damage to the teeth and jaw. Decaying bone means teeth fall out; in advanced cases, the bones can actually start to fall apart, requiring very painful surgery to graft new bone to reconstruct a collapsing jaw.

Chronic infections can get into the bloodstream, and be carried to other, more vulnerable parts of the body. Advanced periodontitis has been linked to causing or exacerbating asthma and respiratory disease. Some studies seem to suggest that some cases of rheumatoid arthritis can be linked to advanced periodontitis. The circulatory system seems to be particularly susceptible. Some infections of the heart and arteriovascular system have been definitively linked to periodontitis. In some rare cases, it’s even been a contributing factor to strokes. For pregnant women, it can contribute to low birth weight in infants. It can also make it difficult for diabetics to control their sugar levels, and be the source of various infections for those with immune deficiency conditions.

But the news isn’t all dire. The fact is, periodontitis can be treated with immediate adoption of good oral care, combined with various antibiotic therapies. For some advanced cases, surgery may be required to rebuild infected bone or to root out deep infection pockets, but those are relatively rare. And it can all be prevented even more easily by watching for gingivitis.

Gingivitis is easy to prevent: good oral hygiene, including regular brushing and flossing along with regular visits to the dentist will keep gingivitis from settling into your gums. If it’s already made itself at home, treatment is essentially the same as prevention: brushing, flossing, regular dental visits. Keeping gingivitis under control and out of your mouth, you can stop the nightmares of periodontitis at bay.