Gum disease or periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that causes chronic inflammation in the gums and the tissue that surrounds them. The pain can be accompanied by bad breath, sensitivity to cold or heat, gingival bleeding, loosening of the teeth and redness of the gums.
The bacteria in the dental plaque produce toxins that irritate the gums and cause cavities, inflammation and gingivitis. If the plaque its not removed every day by brushing and flossing, it can harden into a porous substance called tartar, which can be very difficult to remove.
Plaque builds up and bacteria can infect not only the superficial gum and teeth, but also the gum tissue and the bone that holds the teeth. If plaque is not daily removed with brushing and flossing, it could happen that the teeth loosen, fall or that finally the dentist has to extract them.
The red, swollen and soft gums are usually related to reaction caused by bacteria that constantly accumulate in the teeth, so good brush is necessary to remove the accumulated plaque. It should be noted that bacteria not only infect the superficial gum and teeth, but also the gum tissue and the bone that holds the teeth. Some diseases that could arise in the gum would be: Gingivitis, or advanced Periodontitis.
