Most kinds of gum disease begin with gingivitis and can progress to periodontitis if left untreated. This form of gum disease is caused by inadequate oral hygiene, including not flossing daily and not brushing often enough. Plaque can begin forming on teeth within four hours after brushing, and eventually it hardens into tartar, the main culprit in most gum disease. Tartar typically builds beneath the gums and produces toxins that irritate and deteriorate the gum tissue. Different forms of gum disease exist as well.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the mildest type of gum disease. Its symptoms include red, puffy, swollen gums that bleed easily, commonly after brushing or flossing. A person might notice that his gums are just beginning to separate from his teeth. Another symptom may be bad breath. Gingivitis usually causes little or no pain, and is reversible once the dentist removes the tartar, as long as the client practices better oral hygiene in the future.
Chronic Periodontitis
Progression of this condition leads to chronic periodontitis, the most common kind of gum disease after gingivitis. Gums become more inflamed and recede from the teeth. This inflammation causes a gradual deterioration of gum tissue and supporting structures of the teeth, and even bone loss.
Treatment
If periodontitis is diagnosed soon enough, a dentist can remove the tartar by scaling and root-planing, and may also perform gum bleaching if there is any discoloration. Once periodontitis progresses further, a periodontist must use surgical procedures such as removing diseased gum tissue, lengthening crowns, contouring teeth and gums, and performing bone grafting. Chronic periodontitis can cause loose teeth and tooth loss.
Necrotizing Gingivitis
Another kind of gum disease resulting from very poor oral hygiene is called acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. The slang term for this disease, trench mouth, came about when many World War I soldiers lived in trenches for days on end and developed gum disease. Symptoms include bleeding gums, a gray film on the gums, sores between teeth and severe pain.
Necrotizing Periodontal Disease
A second type of necrotizing gum disease has an entirely different cause. This is acute necrotizing periodontal disease, a serious infection that destroys gum tissue and turns it black. Development of black gum disease can be triggered by autoimmune disorders, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malnutrition and smoking. Initial symptoms are severe pain, unpleasant odor and spontaneous bleeding.
Aggressive Periodontitis
An additional kind of gum disease, aggressive periodontitis, is associated with genetic factors and immune deficiencies, although the patients are otherwise healthy. Symptoms include severe inflammation, rapid separation of gums from teeth, and bone destruction.
Systemic Disease Periodontitis
Periodontitis also is associated with certain systemic diseases. These include cardiovascular and respiratory disease, type 1 diabetes, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Down syndrome and other disorders.
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