COMPLICATIONS OF GUM DISEASE

April 22, 2021

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Gum disease is a common oral ailment, so some people don't take it seriously enough. Unfortunately, untreated gum disease can evolve into dangerous and costly complications. Below are some of these complications.

Dental Abscesses

An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms due to a bacterial infection. The abscess forms when the bacterial infection deepens and destroys the affected tissues. A dental abscess can also trigger other symptoms, such as:

  • Sensitivity to extreme temperatures
  • Fever
  • Cheek swelling
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Swollen lymph nodes

A dental abscess won't go away by itself without treatment.

Chronic Pain

Gum disease is not always painful in its infancy. The absence of pain is one reason people don't take gum disease seriously; many only seek dental care if the situation worsens. Early warning signs of gum disease include:

  • Bad breath
  • Tender gums
  • Bleeding gums, especially when brushing

The situation changes if you ignore the warning signs and the gum disease worsens. In such a case, complications such as inflammation and abscesses trigger chronic pain that won't go away without treatment.

Gum Recession

Gum disease, as the name suggests, primarily attacks the gum tissues. Without treatment, the bacteria will destroy most gum tissues, including the gingiva part attached teeth. Gingiva damage will cause the gums to pull away from the teeth progressively.

Gum recession creates multiple problems. For example:

  • A receding gum line is a cosmetic problem since it exposes your teeth's roots and makes them appear longer than normal.
  • The exposed teeth roots will be more susceptible to damage (bacterial or mechanical) since they lack the protective enamel.
  • The exposed roots increase your risk of teeth sensitivity.

The more your gums recede, the worse these problems will be.

Teeth Loss or Migration

Over time, the bacteria that trigger gum disease won't confine themselves to the gums. The infection will spread to the surrounding tissues, including those that attach the teeth to the jaw bone. The infection will weaken the teeth attachment and trigger their mobility.

Such mobile teeth are likely to move out of their usual alignment. In extreme cases, some teeth might even fall out of their sockets. In the long term, the missing teeth might trigger further complications, such as speech and chewing difficulties.

Jawbone Damage

Even the jawbone is not safe from the bacteria that cause gum disease. Once the bacteria weaken the jawbone, they can damage and reduce its density. You might lose your teeth then, even if they were still present at this point.

In addition, the damaged jawbone complicates the option of a dental implant if you want permanent teeth replacement. You might have to get a bone graft before the implant. The bone graft increases the over all cost and duration of the dental implant procedure.

Cardiovascular Complications

In extreme cases, the bacterial infection might move from your oral cavity into your blood vessels. If that happens, the bacteria can circulate throughout your body and attack other vital organs. The lung and the heart, for example, handle blood all the time and can easily develop complications from the bacterial attack.

Other Possible Complications

The medical industry hasn't exhausted the list of gum disease complications. For example, a link exists between extreme gum disease and other ailments, such as:

  • Stroke
  • Premature birth
  • Diabetes

Even though studies haven't clarified how gum disease can trigger such diseases, you can't rule it out as a causative factor. Thus, the best thing is to err on the side of caution and deal with gum disease early.

Desert Dental Kamran Ruintan D.M.D., F.A.G.D., can provide you with preventive dental care to reduce the risk of dental diseases, such as gum disease. We can also help you deal with gum disease before it worsens and triggers any of the above complications.  Contact us  for a dental appointment at your convenience.

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