Gum Diseases

There are many names for gum diseases, which label the severity of the condition.

All gum diseases are periodontitis.  Early periodontitis is generally referred to as gingivitis, a mild inflammation of the gums caused by bacteria living in superficial tartar accumulations along the gum line.  Scraping off or dissolving these tartar formations with Periogen ends gingivitis.

If tartar accumulations are allowed to spread below the gum line, the severity of gum disease increases to moderate periodontitis or periodontal disease.  At this stage, tartar accumulations house anaerobic bacteria, which in effect feed off of bone and gum material. In this destructive environment, periodontal pockets are even more inclined to worsen, so tartar must be scraped off by a dental professional or dissolved with Periogen applied with a Waterpik Ultra.  Failure to do so will most assuredly lead to the most severe form of gum disease, advanced periodontitis.

In advanced periodontitis, tartar accumulations have deepened along with the periodontal pockets 6mm and deeper below the gum line.  Anaerobic bacteria dominate the periodontal pockets, and at this point the body itself begins to eject teeth by a process known as inflammatory response.  Removing tartar at this stage is extremely challenging for a dentist, so people are often referred to an oral surgeon, or periodontist, who surgically peels the gums back to gain access to the tartar for scraping.  Periogen can also dissolve tartar in these deep pockets via the use a periodontal applicator.

Failure to treat advanced periodontitis will lead to the loss of teeth.