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Many people have seen advertisements warning about "the gum disease gingivitis" thanks to Listerine, but people are far less familiar with periodontitis. Periodontitis is considered a more advanced form of gingivitis, and it signals that your mouth is suffering. As periodontitis worsens, your gums can become inflamed, causing them to be less effective at protecting the roots of your teeth. That can leave more of your teeth exposed, making it easier for bacteria to form in a deeper part of your teeth. If that happens, you can develop massive problems with your teeth. A tooth in an unhealthy mouth can develop serious problems like cavities, tooth decay, cracking, and even losing the tooth altogether. In order to prevent those issues, you need to make sure you're taking care of your mouth by brushing and flossing regularly. Here are some other issues to watch out for with periodontitis. Painful Gums When you have periodontitis, your gums have receded by four millimeters or more from their normal position. That might not seem like much, but considering that teeth and gums are not very big to begin with, it's actually a significant decline. When an AK dentist takes a look at your mouth for periodontitis possibilities, he or she will check each tooth and see how far your gums have receded before determining whether your mouth has reached that point. During the process, you might feel a lot of pain from the gentle pressure on each tooth. Pain at the first sign of pressure is a serious sign of trouble, as your mouth should be able to withstand a slight but firm touch without much discomfort. If your gums are hurting, that could be a sign that you might have a serious issue coming soon if the problem doesn't get fixed. Bleeding Gums One problem that makes periodontitis develop is that those with the disease often find themselves seeing blood in the sink when they do brush their teeth, which can cause them to shy away from proper brushing and flossing. However, blood in the sink is not a sign that you've brushed too hard and need to back off. It's a sign that you need a dentist's help. If your gums continue to bleed, it might be a sign that your tooth is decaying. If your tooth decays too much, you might lose it completely or have to get an expensive and painful root canal. Other Issues If you think periodontitis is limited to nothing more than your mouth, you're in for a shock. Bacteria can travel through the blood stream to other parts of your body, causing problems for your lungs, heart, and other vital organs. Your mouth is actually a gateway for some serious problems, which is why you need to ensure you're taking proper care of it at all times. The good news is that even if you suffer from periodontitis, it's not too late to reverse the damage. By brushing, flossing, and working with a qualified AK dentist, you can help make a bad situation better and get your mouth on the right track to health.
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