{"id":1003,"date":"2019-07-26T16:46:05","date_gmt":"2019-07-26T16:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=1003"},"modified":"2019-07-26T20:03:06","modified_gmt":"2019-07-26T20:03:06","slug":"your-dentist-explains-the-difference-between-gingivitis-and-periodontitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/your-dentist-explains-the-difference-between-gingivitis-and-periodontitis\/","title":{"rendered":"Dentist Explains the Different Stages of Gum Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/AdobeStock_178922366__1561387421_61398-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1004\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/AdobeStock_178922366__1561387421_61398-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/AdobeStock_178922366__1561387421_61398-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/AdobeStock_178922366__1561387421_61398.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people have experienced bleeding gums at some point while\nbrushing, but did you know that the infection responsible is also the leading\ncause of adult tooth loss? Despite being a widespread condition, most people aren\u2019t\nproperly educated on the various stages of gum disease. To best protect\nyourself from this condition, you need to know the causes and health risks of\neach stage. In this post, your dentist will differentiate between gingivitis\nand periodontitis to help you stay healthy and happy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Gingivitis? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gingivitis is the inflammation of your gums and the first\nstage of gum disease. While the condition is common and mild, it\u2019s important to\ntake it seriously and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/gum-disease-treatment.html\">treat it\npromptly<\/a>. Gingivitis is caused by a buildup of bacteria-filled plaque along\nthe roots of the teeth, which is usually a result of poor oral hygiene.\nSymptoms include tender, red or puffy gums that easily bleed when you brush\nyour teeth. While your gums are irritated, your teeth are still firmly planted\nin their sockets, and no irreversible bone or tissue damage has occurred\u2026yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Periodontitis? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When gingivitis is left untreated, it can turn into\nperiodontitis. An afflicted patient\u2019s gums will start to pull away from their\nteeth and form pockets. These spaces between the teeth and gums collect debris\nand can become infected. As your body fights the bacteria, it will continue to\nspread and grow below your gum line. The longer the condition goes untreated,\nthe more damage is caused in your mouth, including your teeth becoming loose\nand falling out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Do I Prevent Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The progression of gum disease can be stopped with proper\nplaque removal and other lifestyle changes. Ways to decrease the risk and\nspread of gum disease include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride\ntoothpaste <\/li><li>Brush your gums, tongue and the inside of your\nmouth afterwards<\/li><li>Floss and use mouthwash daily <\/li><li>Avoid tobacco use <\/li><li>Maintain a well-balanced diet <\/li><li>Visit your dentist at least twice a year for\nregular checkups and cleanings<\/li><li>Wear a mouthguard if you grind your teeth at\nnight<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Certain individuals are genetically predisposed to\ndeveloping gum disease despite practicing strong oral hygiene. If someone in\nyour family has gum disease, you may be at a greater risk as well. Talk to your\ndentist to learn what else you need to do to protect yourself against the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Peter St. Clair has over 20 years of experience in the\ndental field. He strives to create a supportive environment to improve and\nmaintain his patients\u2019 oral health. If you have further questions about gum\ndisease, he can be reached through his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/contact.html\">website<\/a> or at\n978-948-2030.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most people have experienced bleeding gums at some point while brushing, but did you know that the infection responsible is also the leading cause of adult tooth loss? Despite being a widespread condition, most people aren\u2019t properly educated on the various stages of gum disease. To best protect yourself from this condition, you need to know the causes and health risks of each stage. In this post, your dentist will differentiate between gingivitis and periodontitis [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1003"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1003\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1007,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1003\/revisions\/1007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}