Gingivitis is caused by the germs (bacteria) in dental plaque and calculus. What causes gingivitis and periodontitis? Approximately 50% of adults will have one or two areas of minor pocketing, and approximately 15% of adults are susceptible to developing moderate-to-severe periodontitis. However, the effects and consequences of periodontitis can be very severe in those who do have it. Some people can have inflamed gums for years and experience little or no permanent damage to their periodontal tissues. Periodontitisįortunately, unlike gingivitis, periodontitis will not affect everybody. This is because the gums have had a chance to heal because they are not being irritated by plaque between the teeth anymore. This is very common because they are disturbing the plaque and parts of the gum that have not been cleaned properly for a long time.Īfter a week of flossing twice a day the bleeding will usually stop. Most people who floss for the first time find that their gums bleed a lot. The plaque deposits which build up between the teeth often cause a localised gingivitis which is often seen as swollen interdental papillae - these are the pointy bits of gum between your teeth. Many people brush their teeth fairly well but do not clean between their teeth with floss or interdental brushes. The severity of the condition will vary according to the size, age and distribution of the plaque deposits as well as the oral health and general health of the individual. GingivitisĮverybody who allows plaque deposits to remain on their teeth and gums for more than two or three days will develop gingivitis. Attendance for regular check-ups will allow your dentist to assess how effectively you are cleaning your teeth and provide oral hygiene advice and support if necessary. This removes the plaque deposits before they have become very large and had a chance to damage the teeth and gums. This is why dental advice is to brush twice a day, morning and night. In less than 24 hours the layer of plaque that forms will usually be thick enough to see on the teeth. Within a few minutes of tooth brushing, plaque will start to develop on the tooth surfaces. How common are plaque, gingivitis and periodontitis? PlaqueĮverybody has millions of germs (bacteria) in their mouths. There are other less common types and causes of gingivitis and periodontitis which are not dealt with further. The rest of this leaflet is about plaque and plaque-related gingivitis and periodontitis. However, deeper pockets need to be treated by a dentist or dental hygienist, as normal brushing and cleaning will not reach the bottom of the pocket. Plaque can be removed from shallow pockets (up to about 3 mm deep) by brushing and cleaning teeth in a normal way. The aim of treatment for periodontitis is to remove the plaque and calculus from around the teeth and inside the periodontal pockets to prevent or limit further destruction of tooth-supporting tissues, ie the peridontium. If left untreated this cycle will repeat itself until the tooth becomes looser and looser and eventually falls out or requires extraction.ĭentists assess the severity and progression of periodontitis by measuring the depth of the pockets that form between the gum and tooth. This infection results in destruction of the bone and periodontal ligament in that area which in turn causes the pocket to become deeper. The pocket provides a safe environment for more plaque to form and this leads a localised infection inside the pocket. This results in a gap, or pocket, between the tooth and gum (a periodontal pocket). The effects of this tissue damage are usually permanent.Īt the start of periodontitis, the inflamed gingivae lose their attachment to teeth. In its early stages it shares all of the features of gingivitis, but as the condition progresses it can be distinguished from gingivitis by its destructive effect on the other periodontal tissues, ie the bone and periodontal ligament. So, periodontitis literally means 'inflammation around the tooth'. 'Peri-' is Latin for around 'dont-' means tooth '-itis' means inflammation.
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