How Long Can You Keep Your Teeth With Periodontal Disease?

Overall health entails more than just your body working in apt condition, it also means optimal function and strong structure of your mouth. Other than the look of your teeth, a healthy oral cavity includes proper roof of mouth, healthy gum tissues and jawbone. Although deviations are quite apparent in this area, yet there is a silent threat of periodontal disease as well. It is a chronic inflammatory condition that attacks the gum tissues supporting your teeth, leading to a breakdown of the bone and soft tissues. If it goes unnoticed, periodontal disease can wreak havoc not only in your gums but may make you lose a tooth entirely. Stay with us to learn more about the connection between these two and find out how long you can keep your teeth with periodontal disease.

Early Stage Gum Disease - Gingivitis

It is the initial stage where bacterial overload starts showing its negative effects on the soft tissue of the gums. During this early level of gum disease, you are not at risk of losing your tooth just yet. Usually, no signs of discomfort are present; however, mild other symptoms such as swollen or puffy gums, bleeding from the mouth, tender gums, bad breath, etc., may gradually rise.

Advanced Stage of Gum Disease - Periodontitis

When gingivitis is left untreated or unfortunately goes undetected, it progresses into a more aggressive version - periodontitis. It is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue around teeth. Without treatment, periodontitis destroys the supporting bone of your teeth, making them loose. This stage of gum disease can make your teeth fall out if no action is taken on time. Gum disease is not permanent, and you can prevent gingivitis from worsening into periodontitis.

Stages of Periodontitis

Periodontitis advances in multiple stages. It all starts with slight damage to the ligaments and bone supporting the teeth and often goes undetected. As the disease intensifies from mild to moderate, it presents by doing significant damage, causing deeper gum pockets, swelling, redness, tooth shifting, etc. Not taking treatment during this stage of periodontal disease may make you lose your teeth.

How Long Can You Keep Your Teeth With Gum Disease?

Now, the burning question: how long will you be able to retain your teeth with this gum disease? Truth be told, there is no "one size fits all" answer. The life of your tooth depends on several factors, which we have discussed further.

Factors That Affect Tooth Retention with Periodontal Disease

There are multiple parameters that come into play while determining tooth loss with periodontal disease.

Severity of the Condition

• Early Stage (Gingivitis): It marks its presence by inflammation and bleeding gums that can be troublesome. The good news is that with early intervention (professional scaling) and proper oral hygiene, you can get rid of gum disease at this stage and prevent tooth loss.
• Advanced Stage (Periodontitis): When the disease is left to progress, the infection spreads deeper within, compromising the bone and periodontal ligaments. This breakdown makes the tooth wiggly and leads to it falling out. When the disease proceeds to this level, curing it is not possible. However, timely management with scaling, root planing, and potential adjunctive therapies can halt it from worsening and save teeth.

• Scaling and Root Planing: Both are non-surgical procedures that effectively remove plaque and tartar buildup from the tooth surface as well as below the gum line. Since they get rid of the source of infection, scaling, and root planing preserve bone health to further help retain teeth.
• Surgery: In case the severity has reached all-time heights, periodontal surgery might be necessary. This route will help reconstruct bone loss or reposition teeth for better support.

Can You Reverse Periodontal Disease?

As mentioned earlier, catching gum disease in its primitive stage (gingivitis) means complete reversal and you can keep your tooth. For this you need to practice a better oral hygiene regime. While there is less to no hope of complete cure in advanced stage (periodontitis). But you can save your teeth by managing the condition.

3 Ways to Maximize Chances of Retaining Tooth

Here are some ways you can manage keeping your teeth with periodontal disease:

Closing Note

All in all, periodontal disease is a significant oral health threat that requires immediate attention from the professionals. Early diagnosis is the key to reversing gingivitis and retaining teeth in case of advanced periodontitis. We hope that this blog answers most of your queries. However, in case there are still some questions in your mind, consult with our dental care experts

D.D.S., M.S., F.A.G.D., F.I.C.O.I. along with their team at

Rodeo Dental and Orthodontics

to learn more. We offer our services in multiple locations, so you can schedule an appointment with us at your convenience by dialing