Will You Lose Your Teeth Because of Untreated Gum Disease? / Healthy Living / News

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13th Jun 2025

Will You Lose Your Teeth Because of Untreated Gum Disease?

Gum disease is a term used to describe infections of the gums and tissue around your teeth. Though it begins with subtle signs such as foul breath and bleeding gums, it can eventually harm the bone and tissues that support teeth. Interestingly, symptoms of periodontal disease can develop without generating apparent discomfort, so you may be harmed without noticing it.

According to the CDC, 47.2% of persons aged 30 and over have some kind of periodontal disease. This figure rises to 70.1% for people 65 and older.

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Gum disease can take many forms, but it usually begins with gingivitis, which is caused by pathogenic bacteria that inflame the gums. The symptoms include bleeding, discomfort, and redness. Early gingivitis is treatable, but if left untreated, it leads to periodontal disease.

These bacteria can colonize the area between gums and teeth, worsening pockets. They cause tissue injury, which promotes additional development. An imbalance in the oral microbiome, also known as oral dysbiosis, leads to this scenario. Periodontal disease causes gum recession, larger pockets, and probable bone injury that keeps teeth in place.

Will You Lose Your Teeth If You Have Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease can cause tooth loss if not treated properly. The condition damages the gums and bone that support your teeth. This support decreases with time, causing teeth to loosen and finally fall out. Many patients with periodontal disease, however, can preserve their natural teeth for life if they receive early diagnosis, persistent dental care, and practice excellent oral hygiene.

How Do I Fix Teeth With Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease treatment entails treating the infection and preventing future damage to the teeth. Treatment can include:

Professional thorough cleaning (scaling and root planing) to eliminate plaque and tartar from behind the gumline;
Antibiotic treatment (topical or oral) to alleviate bacterial illness;
For severe situations, surgical techniques like flaps or bone/gum transplants are used;
At home, practice strict oral hygiene by brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and using antimicrobial rinses;
Dental appointments need to be scheduled on a regular basis to maintain and monitor.

Maintaining good hygiene may be enough to treat mild gingivitis. However, if you're asking how to treat gum disease without a dentist, the answer is that you can handle the early stages at home, but professional aid is required as the condition advances.

Can Wisdom Teeth Cause Periodontal Disease?

Wisdom teeth can cause periodontal problems, especially if they are:

Impacted (stuck behind the gums or jawbone);
Partially erupted, making them difficult to clean;
Crowding other teeth results in narrow gaps that retain food and plaque.

These disorders can cause inflammation, infection, and gum disease around wisdom teeth, known as pericoronitis. Removing troublesome wisdom teeth can help prevent or treat localized periodontal disease.

Does Removing Teeth Cure Periodontal Disease?

No, removing teeth does not alleviate symptoms of periodontal disease. Extraction may be required if a tooth is too damaged or loose to keep, but the underlying gum and bone infection must be addressed.

Periodontal disease, if not treated, can spread to other regions of the mouth, even after some teeth are removed. That is why continued gum disease treatment and maintenance are required following any gum disease-related tooth extraction.

In situations of pericoronitis, removing the wisdom teeth helps reduce inflammation and illness. Your dentist or oral surgeon will extract the tooth, followed by antibiotic treatment.