While dental treatment can mean different things depending on your specific oral health concerns, one of the most consistent factors in it is the need to address the concern as soon as possible. This is especially true in the case of gum disease, which is the most frequent cause behind tooth loss. The longer it takes to address your gum disease, the higher your risks of losing one more teeth to it will be. Today, we take a look at the dangers of gum disease, and why it’s important to treat it before it causes significant damage to your oral tissues and structures.

The progression of gum disease

Gum disease is a progressive problem that may not seem very severe at first, but can systematically destroy the gums and jawbone structure that form the foundation of your smile. The damage that gum disease causes to your gum tissues is significant, and it grows increasingly worse the longer it progresses. Yet, these symptoms can seem minor at first, or be easy to miss, which can often allow the disease to grow more severe before patients seek treatment for it.

How it leads to tooth loss

Because gum disease primarily impacts your gum tissues rather than your teeth, many people are surprised to learn that it’s the leading cause of tooth loss, or that they may lose one or more teeth to it. However, your gums (or periodontal tissues) play a significant role in your smile’s health and integrity, and in the stability of your teeth and their roots. When gum disease progresses severely enough, it can also erode the health and integrity of your jawbone structure, making it weaker and causing it to lose its grip on one or more of your teeth.

How to protect your smile from it

The fact that gum disease is progressive is an important reason why it doesn’t always lead to tooth loss. When you detect and treat gum disease early enough, you can stop it from causing significant enough damage to cost you one or more teeth. However, if it’s severe enough, then protecting your smile from gum disease may require ongoing maintenance to keep the disease and its related tissues inflammation under control.

Learn how to successfully treat gum disease

Gum disease can be your greatest risk for tooth loss, but treating it can help you preserve your smile more successfully. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Modern Smile in North Hollywood, CA, today at 818-763-9353. We also proudly serve patients who live in Burbank, Toluca Lake, and all surrounding communities.