Does Gum Disease Cause Tooth Loss?

When we think about gum disease, we often picture issues with bad breath and bleeding gums. But did you know this common disease, which impacts half of adults over 30 according to studies from the Centers For Disease Control, could also lead to adult tooth loss? In today’s blog, your Livonia, MI, dentist talks about the link between gum disease and tooth loss.

The Link Between Missing Teeth and Periodontitis

The disease begins as inflammation, also known as gingivitis, often caused by poor oral hygiene, the use of certain medications, inflammatory illnesses, tobacco use, and a family history of periodontal issues. Unless treated, the inflammation causes the tissue to pull away from the teeth and form deep pockets. When bacteria enter these pockets gum disease develops. While gingivitis can be reversed, gum disease cannot, and must be managed. Otherwise, the advanced stage, known as periodontitis, could develop. The tissues connecting the teeth and gums become destroyed, and the patient begins to lose teeth.

Preventing Tooth Loss

First, make time to brush your teeth when you wake up and once more before going to sleep at night. Each session should take two minutes and involve a pea-sized portion of fluoride toothpaste. You need to floss nightly too, as this reaches the particles of food caught between the teeth or in the gum line. Avoid using tobacco products, such as cigarettes, and be sure you attend routine checkups and cleanings. A preventive visit means your dentist can keep an eye on your smile for possible signs of periodontal disease.

Filling the Gaps in Your Smile

If you have lost one or more teeth to the disease, we can help with implant dentistry. First, we need to address your underlying oral health issues to prevent implant failure. Afterward, we can safely address one or multiple missing teeth with implants that last decades with proper care and attention. We can even secure full and partial sets of dentures, providing a prosthetic that never slips, doesn’t need to be removed for soaking and cleaning, and can last decades to come. If you have any questions about tackling your tooth loss with implant dentistry, or about the care needed at home and in the office to control gum disease, then contact our team today.

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT REPLACING MISSING TEETH?

Our team wants to help people of all ages enjoy a full and functional smile, which means we handle preventive oral health issues, and also address missing teeth with implant dentistry. To learn more about the treatment (or prevention) of tooth loss, then call James Stewart, DDS, dental implant office in Livonia, MI, at (734) 425-4400. We also serve the residents of Farmington, Plymouth, Dearborn Heights, and all surrounding communities.