Periodontitis affects approximately half of adults, and is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. It’s often and colloquially referred to as gum disease. You’ve heard the words, and you’ve listened to your dentist explain the importance of good daily dental habits to avoid gum disease. What is gum disease, and what do you need to know about it? What is gum disease? Your gums play an essential role that is often and easily overlooked. Your gums support your teeth and protect the interior of your jaw and protect the roots of your teeth from exposure and the accumulation of bacteria and food particles that can cause infection Gum disease is an infection affecting those gum tissues. Most frequently, gum disease is caused by poor oral hygiene habits that haven’t been up to the cause of preventing plaque from building up. Periodontal disease presents in two ways, one more serious than the other: gingivitis ; and periodontitis . The two stages of periodontal disease Gingivitis i...