I believe many of you must have heard about periodontal disease (as known as gum disease). Indeed, you may not have imagined that three out of every four adults suffer from some form of periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease may be ignored as in most cases it does not cause much pain.  Because of that, early detection is extremely crucial as gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

Periodontal disease (or gum disease) is a chronic disease of the supporting tissue around the teeth which include the gums, bone and connective tissue.

So how does periodontal disease occur? Periodontal disease occurs when plaque builds up and irritates the gum and bone, which will lead to inflammation and infection.  The earliest stage of periodontal disease is named gingivitis.  When the disease is ignored and untreated, it may progress to the bone which is called periodontitis. 

So what are the signs of periodontal disease?  It may include:
-sore and/or bleeding gums
-tooth movement
-change in your bite
-bad breath or persistent bad taste or
-gums that have pulled away from your teeth

What may happen in the later stage of the disease is that the bone and soft tissues that support the teeth are destroyed, and it may cause the teeth to become loose, eventually fall out or be removed.  That’s why it is necessary to have regular dental checkup and brush and clean between your teeth to prevent gum disease development.