You’ve probably heard that gum disease can cause tooth loss — and that’s true. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. The good news is that with proper care, it’s often preventable. But if it develops and goes untreated, it can seriously damage the bone supporting your teeth, leading to loose teeth and eventual tooth loss. Early diagnosis and care are key to protecting your smile.
You can reduce your risk by maintaining strong oral hygiene habits and scheduling regular professional cleanings. Early gum disease (gingivitis) is reversible, but advanced stages are not. And even if tooth loss does occur, modern dentistry offers effective ways to restore your smile.
The Basics of Gum Disease
To understand one’s risk of tooth loss, let’s review how gum disease works. Anyone can get gum disease, but some people are more vulnerable to it. Risk factors include:
- Having other health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and some autoimmune diseases
- Smoking and using tobacco products
- Changes in hormone levels, such as during puberty, pregnancy and menopause
- Experiencing stress
- Having a family history of gum disease
- Poor oral hygiene habits
How Gum Disease Happens
Periodontal disease attacks the point of attachment between the tooth and the gum. Every day, plaque (a sticky film of bacteria) forms on our teeth. It can be brushed and flossed away, but if it doesn’t, it hardens into a substance called tartar. This substance can only be removed with professional tools at a dental clinic.
Tartar can lead to infection, with symptoms like bleeding gums during brushing and flossing. At this stage, gum disease is called gingivitis. It’s important to note that gingivitis is reversible. However, you must be diligent in your dental care because it can return.
Left untreated, gum disease leads to more infection in the place where your teeth attach to your gums. Symptoms may include puffiness, bleeding when you brush, and a change in your gums’ colour. If gum disease is allowed to advance even further, infection will damage the bone that holds your teeth. This can cause teeth to loosen and fall out.
Gum Disease & Tooth Loss
So, how long can you keep your teeth if you have gum disease? This is a difficult question to answer because everybody is different, and your risk of tooth loss will depend on how advanced your gum disease is.
The early stage of gum disease, gingivitis, is reversible. But bone loss is not reversible. If you’re concerned about your gum health, discuss your prognosis and outlook with your dental care team.
Treating Gum Disease
If your gum disease is mild, keeping up with consistent brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits can help treat the condition. At this stage, the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) recommends brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day to remove plaque that may turn to tartar.
More advanced cases of gum disease may be referred to a periodontist. A periodontist is a dental specialist who treats the hard and soft tissue that support teeth and tooth implants.
Preventing Gum Disease
You can avoid tooth loss and other complications of gum disease by doing your best to avoid it in the first place. Good oral hygiene habits can make a big difference in this regard.
Oral Hygiene
As we mentioned before, brush at least twice a day and floss at least once every day. Fun fact: if you don’t floss, you miss out on cleaning one-third of your teeth’s surface. Plaque hardens to tartar within 24 to 36 hours, so regular brushing and flossing are essential.
When you floss, remember to reach the back of your last molars. It’s also better to brush after you floss rather than before. When brushing your teeth, hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and focus on cleaning the point where your teeth and gums meet. Brush gently.
The Importance of Regular Dental Visits
Gum disease often shows no obvious symptoms in its early stages. That’s why it’s so important to visit your dentist for regular exams and cleanings. For many people, this is every 6 months, but ask your dentist for a more personalized frequency recommendation based on your unique oral health.
Your dentist may measure gum disease with a periodontal probe, which identifies where your teeth attach to your gums. Gums that are attached too low may signal gum disease. X-rays may also be used to assess the bone structure around your teeth.
Signs you may need to see your dentist right away about your gums include:
- Frequent bleeding gums when you brush your teeth
- Colour changes in your gums, such as red gums in areas around your teeth
- Sore, swollen, or shiny gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Metallic taste
- Tooth sensitivity with no obvious reason
Schedule Your Next Professional Cleaning
When it comes to oral health, prevention is key. Good oral hygiene habits and regular dental visits can help you prevent costly interventions and uncomfortable conditions.
With a women-led team and a mission to become partners with our patients, Genesis Dental offers dental care services in Surrey including general dentistry, restorative dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry.
We want to keep you smiling for as long as possible, so contact us today to book your next professional cleaning.
