What really is periodontal (gum) disease?
- Periodontitis is the technical term for what we colloquially refer to as gum disease, generally speaking.
- Periodontitis is a chronic lifelong disease which causes the loss of the bone and gums which hold the teeth in place.
- It is significantly impacted by lifestyle factors like smoking, medical conditions like diabetes, as well as a large genetic element
- It can be slowed or stopped entirely by having periodontal (deep) cleaning which is more involved than regularly cleaning. When combined with addressing the lifestyle and systemic health conditions that are worsening it.
- Periodontitis is very common in the general population, and more so in certain ethnic groups