Gum Disease can be caused by the presence of plaque
Gum disease, or gingivitis is primarily caused by the presence of plaque, a sticky bacterial substance that grows naturally on the tooth. Our natural immune system naturally reacts to plaque, which causes the adverse symptoms explained above. Certain factors, such as smoking, ongoing health conditions, age, and genetics can make some people more prone to gum disease, too.
An essential part of gum disease is the thorough routine care of brushing and flossing. However, to ensure the best recovery, your dentist will usually schedule in deep cleans to help along. This involves scaling the tooth with tools designed to remove plaque as thoroughly as possible, so that your own cleaning efforts are more effective.
Without effectively treating gum disease, symptoms such as inflamed, bleeding gums, sensitivity, and bad breath can continue to grow worse. Eventually, it can evolve to become periodontitis, also known as periodontal disease. This is when the gums recede enough to create a pocket or gap between the tooth and gum, which can damage the gums and bones enough to cause tooth loss not only in the impacted teeth, but those surrounding it.