How will you differentiate gingivitis vs periodontitis? If you have periodontitis, for sure that you already overpass the stage of gingivitis. However, you can easily avoid that serious condition by dealing with the early indication of gum complication as soon as possible.
Gingivitis vs Periodontitis: What is the Difference?
Periodontal disease is a more summed up term for gum disease. Hence, it includes gingivitis and periodontitis, though periodontitis is the most commonly termed gum disease. To understand the difference between gingivitis vs periodontitis, let us examine the two’s definition and symptoms.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the phase where the gums are inflamed because of an abundance of plaque on the teeth. Common gingivitis symptoms include red, inflamed gums or gums that easily bleed when you floss or brush your teeth. It is the earliest stage of gum disease, and since it is so typical to everyone, you may not observe the indications if you have them.
Tartar builds up both above and beneath the gum line, and as it develops, it aggravates and inflames gum tissue. You may have gingivitis if you are encountering any of these unfavorable side effects:
Bleeding from the gums, particularly when brushing and flossing
- Tender, painful gums
- Bright red gums
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Tooth decay and cavities
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is a more advanced stage of gum disease. In periodontitis, the gum tissue pulls from the teeth, making pockets where extra microbes can develop and cause an infection.
If you have gingivitis, it can progress into this severe form of gum disease. Poor oral hygiene is the common reason to have gingivitis, and if tartar keeps on developing without proper dental care, it rapidly advances into periodontitis. Indications of possible periodontitis incorporate:
- poor tooth alignment
- pain when biting
- red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- receding gums
- sore within mouth
- loose or sensitive teeth
- Chronic bad breath
This gum disease level can cause lasting damage to your teeth and the bones that uphold them and is the primary source of tooth loss. Since periodontitis is a severe type of gum disease, you cannot treat it on your own at home. Keep in mind that only a dentist has the proper instrument and skills to treat periodontitis and help bring back healthy gum tissue.
Gingivitis vs Periodontitis: Different Factors to Differentiate the Two Conditions
Poor oral hygiene is the main offender for developing gum disease. If you are unsure if you have gingivitis or periodontitis, here are a few hints to tell the difference.
Age: It is rare to happen that teenagers have periodontitis. However, they can develop gingivitis.
Pain: Discomfort when biting can indicate that your gum disease has advanced from gingivitis to periodontitis.
Tooth Condition: In gingivitis, your teeth are still firmly in place, but your gums might be red, irritated, and swollen. Once your tooth or teeth are loose, you may have a more advanced gum disease stage called periodontitis.
Breath: Once the early stage of gum disease progresses to periodontitis, you may notice that you have persistent dreadful breath because of the presence of excess bacteria in your mouth.
Common Causes of Gum Disease
Gum inflammation, known as gingivitis, generally precedes periodontitis. Nonetheless, it is necessary to be aware that not all gingivitis becomes periodontitis. Numerous factors may expand your danger in developing gingivitis, including:
Poor oral hygiene: Not flossing or brushing regularly can lead to the arrival of gingivitis.
Smoking: It is one of the most significant risk factors for periodontal disease. Smoking also brings down the odds that treatment will be successful.
Hormonal changes: This factor can increase the possibility of inflammation and sensitivity in your gums. Taking care of your mouth will support to lessen the risk.
Poor diet: Poor sustenance deprives your body of significant nutrients and minerals. This condition makes it harder to fend off infections like gum disease.
Chronic sickness: Cancer, diabetes, or HIV are all examples of ailments that make you more vulnerable to battling an infection. Getting regular dental visits can help you establish an effective oral hygiene practice that will decrease your danger of developing gum disease.
Periodontal Disease Treatments
The dentist can determine the proper treatment for you depending on the seriousness of your gum disease. Treating this condition as early as possible reduces damage and minimizes the possibility of tooth loss. Common periodontal treatments include:
Dental Cleaning
In a standard dental cleaning, your dentist eliminates all plaque and tartar above and beneath the gum line. If you have any forms of gum disease, your dentist will suggest more regular dental cleanings.
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing also called deep cleaning, is compelling for gum disease cases discovered early. This treatment is a nonsurgical technique done while the patient is under local anesthesia. Your dentist will scrape away both plaque and tartar from above and beneath the gum line. They will then smoothen the rough areas with planning. This procedure eliminates bacteria and gives a clean surface for your gums to reattach appropriately.
Flap Surgery
Also called pocket reduction, a surgical procedure is may be necessary for a more advanced form of gum disease like periodontitis. In this treatment, the dentist will lift back the gums and remove any tartar. After that, the dentist will place back the gums so they can fit cozily around your teeth. This treatment helps decrease the space between the gum and tooth.
Bone Grafts
In this treatment, the dentist uses parts of your bone, donated bone, or even manufactured bone to substitute any bone destroyed by gum disease. Bone graft promotes regrowth of bone, which supports your teeth to be more stable.
LANAP Laser Gum Surgery
Some dentists use this modern technique rather than conventional surgical procedure since LANAP laser is less painful and lessens sensitivity post-operation. The recovery time in this treatment is additionally a lot shorter.
As explained on this page, a dental therapist together with your dentist can help you identify symptoms of gum disease and suggest tips to minimize the risks.
