The inflammation of the gums known as gingivitis, or the early stage of gum disease, can spread to the roots of the teeth if not treated, forming pockets that fill up with more food debris and colonies of bacteria. As the disease progresses, the bone support for the teeth begin to loosen and drift from the normal position.
Receding gums can occur. Finally, unless the disease is treated in time, teeth may be lost. Periodontal gum disease is sometimes called pyorrhea, a Greek word meaning a discharge of puss, is somewhat misleading term, because it identifies only one manifestation of the disease, an abscess that usually forms along the side of an affected tooth. In some cases, a membrane forms around the abscess, creating a pus-filled cyst in tooth socket.
Gum disease symptoms may warn you with bad breath, swollen and bleeding gums and can permit disease-causing bacteria to travel through the bloodstream and cause health problems to develop. Seeking the intervention of a dental professional is required to save severely damaged teeth and gums and to restore periodontal health.