Your gum tissue and bone should adapt snugly around your teeth like a turtleneck around your neck. Your gums and bone are ‘attached’ to your teeth, creating a tight seal so that bacteria cannot pass under the gums. Active periodontal disease destroys and ‘detaches’ your gums and bone from your teeth, forming ‘pockets’ which allows bacteria to enter and travel deeper and deeper under the gums, creating a periodontal infection.
The deeper the pockets become, the larger the space for bacteria to live. Over time this results in further bone and tissue loss as well as more rapid loss due to the higher number of bacteria. Inevitably, if too much bone is lost, teeth become loose and may need to be extracted. This is an unfortunate progression of periodontal disease that can often be avoided with periodontal therapy.
Periodontal disease has often been implicated with diabetes, heart disease, oral cancer, and other medical problems. Research has shown that periodontal health and therapy can help improve these conditions. Here at PerioLife, we are dedicated to promoting oral health as well as overall well being.