Gum disease can begin at any age. It often develops slowly and without pain. By the time you are aware of it, you may be in danger of losing teeth.
Healthy gums and bone are what hold teeth in place. The place where gums are attached to the teeth – just below the edge of the gums – is called the point of attachment. Gum disease attacks this point of attachment and can begin when plaque, a white and sticky substance that contains bacteria (germs), forms on your teeth and gums. Plaque forms every day and if it is not removed by brushing and flossing, it hardens into tartar (also called calculus).
Tartar cannot be removed by brushing and flossing and can lead to chronic infection at the point of attachment. Tartar has a rough surface, so in addition to irritating gum tissue, it can also lead to more plaque accumulation.
In its early stages, gum disease is called gingivitis. Gums may be red and bleed a little when you brush, but otherwise you may not notice anything. At this point, the gum disease can be reversed with good dental care. If not treated, the gingivitis will get worse and you might start to notice bleeding from your gums when eating harder foods, such as apples.
As gingivitis progresses, an infection develops at the point of attachment. The results of this infection are puffy gums, traces of blood on your toothbrush, or a change of colour in your gums. Even with these symptoms, you still might not experience any pain in your mouth.
If not treated, over time the infection can lead to the breakdown of your gum, bone, and other tissues that are holding your teeth in place. By then, you can notice swelling, bleeding, and colour changes in your gums. Your teeth can then become loose and fall out – or you might need a dental professional to take them out.
The good news is that a dental professional can spot gum disease at an early stage and treat it. Using a tool called a periodontal probe, he or she can measure where your gums attach to your teeth. If it is not just beneath the edge of the gums, but further below, this is a sign of gum disease. X-rays can be used to see whether there has been any loss of bone around the teeth. This helps your dental professional decide whether a tooth can be saved or if it must be removed.
If your gum disease is serious, your dental professional may refer you to a specialist called a periodontist. A periodontist has extra training in treating gum disease and can either prevent additional bone and tooth loss or, in some cases, restore the bone and gum tissue that you have already lost.