Gum Disease Gum disease is primarily an infection.
It is caused by bacteria which can infect the tissues around the
teeth. These bacteria can cause the gums to swell and bleed. More
importantly they can also cause the loss of the bone that support
the teeth. When this happens, teeth can get loose and may develop
acute infections called abscesses which can be very painful.
Bacteria also trigger an immune or inflammatory response by the
body. Although it is important to fight off any infection, our bodies
reaction to these bacteria contributes to the loss of bone. Eventually
teeth can be lost due to periodontal disease. Newer studies have
shown that the bacteria can also spread from the mouth, through
the blood stream, throughout the body. This may have implications
on cardiovascular disease, diabetes and pregnancy.
As periodontal disease progresses the types of
bacteria change. Initially, the bacteria are not very harmful but
as disease advances the bacteria become more and more destructive.
