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| Types of Periodontal Disease | Two major types of periodontal disease exist; they are: gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis
Actually gingivitis is the phase of periodontal disease when the gums are inflamed and starting to draw back from the teeth. Nevertheless, there is no harm yet to the connective tissue and bone. The most common and least severe form of gingivitis is the ordinary gingivitis. During this form gums turn to be red, swollen; besides, they bleed easily. Additionally, people with gingivitis may have persistent bad breath. At this stage of the disease treatment is very effectual.
Other forms of gingivitis are related to certain drugs (including Dilantin®, Procardia®, steroids and cyclosporine), modifications in hormone levels in women or some allergies and skin diseases. When the cause is an allergy or a skin disease, tissue may actually come off from the gum. In case of the most severe form of gingivitis, known as acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, the gums are so infected that tissue begins to die. The gums bleed unexpectedly and the cone of tissue between teeth decays and becomes blunted. The decay is the cause of pain. Besides, it produces a bad odor. People with AIDS often get this form of gingivitis. In advanced cases, the gums in the front may become yellowish-gray and retreat so much that bone is noticeable.
Periodontitis
The matter is that gingivitis may result in periodontitis, which is characterized not only by inflamed gums but also by deep sacks between gums and teeth. Moreover, in advanced cases, there is destruction of the underlying connective tissue and bone. Adult periodontitis is the most common type of periodontitis. It may develop as early as the teen years, but symptoms usually don’t become visible until the mid-30s or later. Symptoms slowly deteriorate as the person ages, but may come and go depending on a person’s general health, oral hygiene and ability to combat the bacteria that cause the inflammation. Besides, the risk group for periodontitis is people with type 1 diabetes, AIDS and Down's syndrome.
Nevertheless, children can get periodontitis as well. This is a condition that strikes children at puberty and involves the first molars and incisors. As a result juvenile periodontitis may be localized. That is, it’s restricted to one or two teeth, or the inflammation and injure may be more common. Children with localized disease have very little plaque and tartar but have rapid loss of the bone around the affected teeth. Generalized juvenile disease looks and acts more like adult periodontitis, with inflammation, buildup of plaque and tartar and bone loss that loosens teeth. Young adults (ages 18 to 34) may develop a quickly progressive form of the disease. On rare occasions, babies can dvelop the disease with the eruption of their first teeth.
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