Gingivitis vs Periodontitis: Understanding the Connection Between Your Mouth and Body

“Periodontal disease and tooth decay are the two biggest threats to dental health”

-Center of Disease Control

At Total Care Dental & Wellness, we believe that a healthy mouth leads to a healthy body. Your oral health plays a vital role in your overall well-being, and nowhere is this more evident than in the connection between your gums and your body.
An estimated 80% of people experience some stage of gum disease, ranging from gingivitis to advanced gum disease known as periodontitis. These conditions not only affect your teeth and gums but can also have severe implications for your overall health if left untreated.
Let’s dive into the stages of gum disease, the symptoms to watch for, and how you can protect your teeth and gums to maintain your overall health.

The Hidden Dangers of Gum Disease

Gum disease doesn’t stop at your mouth—it can have far-reaching effects on your entire body. Research has linked periodontal disease to a host of systemic health issues, including:

Cardiovascular disease
Stroke
Diabetes
Alzheimer’s disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoporosis
Pre-term birth
Pulmonary disease

When your gums are inflamed or infected, harmful bacteria can enter your bloodstream, contributing to these and other health problems. Protecting your gum health is about more than a healthy smile—it’s about safeguarding your life.

Your Gums: A Protective Shield

Healthy gums are the foundation of a healthy mouth. They act as a shield, protecting your teeth roots, jawbone, and other structures from harmful bacteria. When your gums are healthy, they are pale pink, firm, and snugly fit around your teeth.

However, poor oral hygiene or damage to your gums can lead to plaque buildup and tartar buildup, creating an environment where bacteria thrive. Over time, this can result in gum infection, receding gums, and even tooth loss if left untreated.

“People with periodontal disease have 2x higher risk of dying from heart disease and 3x higher risk of dying from a stroke”

~ Mayo Clinic

Recognizing the Symptoms of Gum Disease

Early signs of gum disease can be subtle but are critical to address. Symptoms include:

Swollen or puffy gums
Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing
Bad breath or a persistent foul taste
Receding gums or teeth that appear longer
Loose teeth or a change in how your teeth fit together

Ignoring these signs can allow gum disease to progress into severe gum disease or advanced periodontitis, leading to bone loss and damage to the surrounding tissues.

Gingivitis vs Periodontitis: What’s the Difference?

Gingivitis:
The earliest stage of gum disease, gingivitis is marked by inflamed gums that bleed easily during brushing or flossing. At this point, the condition is reversible with proper oral hygiene and professional care.

Periodontitis:
When gingivitis is left untreated, it progresses to periodontitis, where the infection spreads to the periodontal ligament and bone. This advanced stage results in bone loss, weakened teeth, and a significant risk to your oral health and overall well-being.

Why Early Treatment Matters

Catching gum disease in its early stages is essential to prevent long-term damage. Regular dental checkups, professional cleanings, and maintaining a consistent oral care routine are vital for keeping your gums healthy.

Untreated gingivitis can progress into a more advanced form of gum disease, requiring specialized treatment to restore your gum tissues and protect your teeth and gums.

How to Prevent Gum Disease

The good news is that gum disease is preventable with a few simple habits:

Brush twice daily with a hydroxyapatite dental product.
Floss regularly to keep your gums clean.
Use products specifically designed to promote gum health and reduce plaque buildup – For example, the Living Well with Dr. Michelle Mouth Rinse is a fluoride-free option infused with natural ingredients like marshmallow root to soothe irritated gums and promote healing. Incorporating it into your oral care routine can help protect your gum tissues while reducing bacteria buildup. Learn more about this natural mouth wash
Schedule regular dental visits for professional cleanings and checkups.

A consistent oral care routine can protect your gum tissues and keep your teeth and gums in optimal health.

When to See a Periodontist

While general dentists can manage mild gum disease, dental professionals like periodontists specialize in treating moderate periodontitis and severe gum disease. They also provide advanced treatments, such as:

Deep cleanings to remove tartar below the gum line
Bone grafting to restore lost bone structures
Gum surgeries for receding gums or severe infections

At Total Care Dental & Wellness, our periodontist, Dr. David Mishler, has advanced training and is dedicated to providing the most natural and effective care possible.

Meet Dr. David Mishler, a dedicated surgeon, and periodontist at Total Care Dental & Wellness that doesn’t accept anything less than excellence.

At Total Care Dental & Wellness, your health is our top priority and you can expect every procedure to be done in the most natural and biological way possible.

Schedule Your New Patient Exam With Total Care Dental & Wellness

Don’t let gum disease take control of your health. Protect your healthy gums, prevent tooth loss, and support your overall health by scheduling a comprehensive exam at Total Care Dental & Wellness.

Our exams include:

Low-dose 3D imaging to detect early signs of gum disease
Personalized care plans to keep your gums healthy
Holistic approaches that consider your whole-body health

Click below to schedule your appointment today!

What Our Patients Are Saying About Dr. Mishler...

I had 4 cavitations and a root canal done. I’m so glad I made the trip to Total Care Dental. My recovery has been speedy and amazingly easy. Sweet Dreams did the anesthesia and Ryan put me at ease and I knew I was in great hands. Dr. Mishler has an amazing bedside manner and his skill level was everything I expected and more. Kara kept me calm and explained everything I was going to possibly be encountering. EVERYONE at Total Care Dental was friendly and exceeded expectations!!

Dr. Mishler did my four deeply infected cavitations in 2022, from wisdom teeth extracted over 20 years prior, which had rotted some of my jaw bone, and had to be cleaned up or it would have hurt my overall health. Not an easy surgery. I had an easy recovery and no complications. Dr. Mishler is very competent, a former cosmetic and general practice MD, and my wife, Dr. Jorgenson who owns the practice converted to biological dentistry over a decade ago, does all new patient intakes and is Utah's best biological dentist (my wife knows them all). I can't recommend Dr. Jorgenson and the dentists she's trained more highly. Most dentists have sold out to a large corporation they now work for--and this practice is still family-owned."GreenSmoothieGirl" Robyn Openshaw, has recommended many people to Total Care Dental over the years. Not many biological dentists have a highly skilled surgeon. Many dentists are doing surgery without doing the extra training Dr. Mishler has gotten. He does the work on Total Care Dental's staff and their families! As well as 3 generations of my wife's family.

I am so happy with the care I have received at Total Care Dental. I have spent way too much of my life in the dentist chair since childhood and I really dislike having dental appointments. I looked for a dental office like Total Care for a long time. A place where they look at my overall health and how it relates to the health of my teeth and gums, and the addition of herbs and vitamins and how they can support me after dental work. I just had a tooth extraction because of an abscess, and I am very pleased with how the process went and how good I am feeling afterward. The call from the surgeon (Dr. Mishler) the next day was a nice addition to my feeling that they care about me as a patient.

I would highly recommend this place! It was my husband’s and I first time here, and we were just taken care of! I couldn't have come to the right place. We just felt true Love and care! The staff really cares about your well being, and they truly want to do what is best for you. You can feel that I had a root canal that was infected and Dr. Mishler just took great care of me and saved my upper tooth and took care of my bottom tooth. Just by looking at his whole demeanor, I could tell he wanted what was best for me and wanted to help me. He even called to see how I was doing what a Dentist does that. I can’t even say words to describe how blessed I feel for going to this place. You will not be disappointed they are the best!

I went in for a tooth extraction and Dr. Mishler was very warm and empathetic. I was blown away by the service as it became obvious he cared about his patients experience and pain. He always checked in with pain and provided thought provoking conversation as a distraction. He even called personally himself the next day to check on recovery and the bone graft. Everything they did seemed geared towards working with the body to recoverwell and combining different treatments like Vitamin C and Ozone to promote healing that you would not get at other dentists. Honestly, the best experience I have ever had. I will definitely be going back in 4 months to get my implant with Dr. Mishler.

Dr. David Mishler is amazing! He recently did gum graft surgery on me. I was impressed by his compassion, professionalism and skill. He has a very calming voice. He would comfort and compliment me throughout the surgery which helped to put me at ease. I felt completely safe and confident in his chair that I was receiving the best care possible. I also highly recommend being sedated for the procedure. I wasn’t, but will add that he is really good at giving shots. I barely felt them.