Periodontitis is a disease that attacks the support tissue of the teeth: in other words, the bone and the fibers that hold teeth in place. If untreated, periodontitis will cause the support tissue of the teeth to break down. The teeth will become lose and may later fall out. During a regular checkup, the dentist or dental hygienist will inspect your gums.
Gum pockets that are 0-3 mm deep are healthy and gum pockets that are 4 mm and above are unhealthy, meaning there is periodontitis. Deep gum pockets usually bleed, since a process of inflammation is underway. Bacteria in the gum pocket slowly break down the fibers and bone that hold the tooth in place. Often the gums recede and the patient may experience sensitive tooth necks. If you have periodontitis, it is vital that your oral hygiene is top notch, and that you use toothpicks and interdental brushes to massage the gums and keep the gaps between the teeth perfectly clean.
Periodontal patients should go to the dentist every 3 months to have their deep gum pockets cleaned. Even with the very best oral hygiene, it is impossible to brush the likes of a 6-mm-deep gum pocket. The reason why dentists advise periodontal patients to have their teeth cleaned every 3 months is that numerous scientific studies have shown that this regularity is the most optimal for keeping periodontitis under control. Periodontitis often occurs in outbreaks, so there may be shorter and longer periods of activity. Regular periodontal treatment is crucial to preserve the teeth as long as possible. Periodontitis is a so-called multifactorial disease. In other words, there are several reasons why it erupts. It may be genetically related, but is often related to oral hygiene.
Some diseases and various forms of medicine have a predisposition to periodontitis. Another very important cause of periodontitis is smoking. Smoking slows down blood flow to the tissue. The bloodstream transports important cells that help protect against infections. If the blood flow is low, there will not be as many of the ‘good cells’ that pass by. Thus, periodontitis may develop faster than in non-smokers.