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Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, is a serious condition that will normally result in tooth loss. The most common forms of gum disease in adults include periodontal disease and gingivitis. Always brush your teeth and remove as much plaque as possible to prevent both types of gum disease. If you allow the plaque to build up, gum disease will normally be the result.

Inflammation of the gums tissues is what characterizes gingivitis. If plaque and tartar build up along the gum line, the gums will eventually get swollen and irritated. Over time, the gums will get very tender and start to appear puffy. Your sore gums will start to bleed with even the tiniest bit of pressure when you brush your teeth. If you notice blood when brushing, chances are you have gingivitis. There should be no sign of blood when you floss or brush.

There is still no loss of bone structure during this stage of gingivitis. You can help to prevent gingivitis though, through flossing and brushing a few times a day. If you don't do anything about gingivitis, you might end up with periodontal disease. Those who don t treat gingivitis or those who keep poor oral hygiene habits, will normally end up with periodontal disease.

The condition that destroys the bond and its surrounding structures is periodontal disease. Once you have this disease, you can never lose it, but by brushing your teeth several times a day and visiting your dentist regularly, you can at least stop it's progression. Periodontal disease is a serious condition, which is why you should always try to stop the progression or even better - never let your gums and teeth get this bad.

Periodontal disease will continue to get worse if you don't do anything about its progression. You'll notice that your gums are very sore and appear to be bright red during the disease's early stages. The plaque buildup along the gum line causes this. The tartar and plaque below the gums will continue to eat at the teeth when left untreated.

Keep in mind that plaque doesn t need to be visible or detected in order for periodontal disease to be diagnosed. Your dentist will have to examine you regularly to determine if you have periodontal disease. Your dentist can perform tests on your gums and your teeth, to determine if you have it. Your dentist can then tell you how to prevent periodontal disease from progressing if you already have it.

Both gingivitis and periodontal disease progress in a very slow fashion, usually without pain. Signs and symptoms will start showing in the later stages, even if you were not aware that you have either of the two initially. Once the later stages have started to progress, you ll normally end up losing the tooth.

To be on the safe side and protect your teeth and your gums, you should always go to the dentist for your regular checkups and cleaning. If you catch it in time, your dentist will be able to help you treat the earlier stages of gum disease. You don t want to wait until it is too late, as the more advanced stages of gum disease can completely destroy your teeth and gums - and there will be little to nothing that you can do about it.