Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease affects up to eighty percent of American adults and can range from fairly simple gum inflammation, which is commonly known as gingivitis, to more serious conditions that can actually affect and damage the bone around the gums and beyond.

The mildest form of gum disease is gingivitis. This is characterized by swollen, red gums that bleed easily. Gingivitis usually occurs as a result of poor dental hygiene and in many cases it can be reversed by simply adopting better brushing and flossing habits.

If it is left untreated, gingivitis can advance to become a more serious form of gum disease known as periodontitis. Over time, the plaque buildup, which should have been removed during the course of proper dental care, spreads out and begins to creep underneath the gum line itself. Bacteria in the plaque stimulate the body into an inflammatory response and essentially it begins to attack itself. The tissues that support teeth begin to break down, the gums separate from the teeth, and pockets are formed that can become easily infected. If left unchecked the disease progresses, the teeth loosen and eventually have to be removed.

Periodontitis can also be a manifestation of a number of systemic diseases elsewhere in the body such as heart disease and diabetes.

Most dental professionals recommend that non surgical treatments be tried before anything else when dealing with periodontitis. Most often scaling and root planning is performed. This involves a professional and extensive cleaning of root surfaces to remove the tartar and bacteria in the infected pockets.

For many people scaling and root planning, followed sometimes by a course of antibiotics is all that is needed. There are those however whose gum disease does not respond to this conservative treatment and for them surgical intervention may be recommended.

Such procedures are carried out by a dental professional who specializes in the treatment of gum disease, a periodontist. Surgical procedures include pocket depth reduction and soft tissue grafts that cover the areas where the gums have receded from the teeth due to the gum disease. In severe cases bone may have even become infected and that has to be removed as well.

Everyone is at risk for gum disease if they do not follow a course of proper dental hygiene, even at a young age. In addition to brushing and flossing at least twice a day, the American Dental Association recommends that everyone, regardless of age be seen by a dentist at least once every six months to undergo a general checkup and receive a professional dental cleaning.