Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) is an infection of
the tissues that support your teeth. It is a major cause of
tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless,
you may not know you have it. At each regular checkup the
dentist will measure the depth of the shallow v-shaped crevice
(called a sulcus) between your tooth and gums to identify
whether you have gum disease. Gum disease is caused by plaque, a
sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on the teeth.
These bacteria create toxins that can damage the gums.
Periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line in the
sulcus, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and
supporting tissues to break down. As the tissues are damaged,
the sulcus develops into a pocket; generally, the more severe
the disease, the greater the depth of the pocket. Periodontal
diseases are classified according to the severity of the
disease. The two major stages are gingivitis and periodontitis.
In the early stage of gum disease, called gingivitis,