How Do Bacteria End Up Under Your Gums?

If your gums are infected or have receded, it makes it easier for bacteria to enter the gums and settle beneath the gum line. This all begins when the bad bacteria start outnumbering the good bacteria because of a lack of dental care.

Learning More about Oral Bacteria

To get a full picture about bacteria in the mouth and how it ends up below the gums, we need to learn more about oral bacteria. While some bacteria limit dental decay, other bacteria cause dental disease. Both of the bacteria form a biofilm, otherwise known as dental plaque. Companies, such as Johnson & Johnson, create biofilms in the laboratory to replicate organisms in the oral microbiome. This is done to see how bad bacteria accumulates in the mouth or communicates with good bacteria. By knowing what happens, in this respect, dental mouth rinses and other dental aids can be created to address bad breath or a build-up of bacteria, tartar, or plaque.

What Happens When the Bad Bacteria Builds Up?

When bad bacteria accumulate, over time, an infection develops. In turn, the gums may bleed, feel sensitive, or begin to swell. When this happens, they lose their anchor and seal around the teeth and the gums slowly start pulling away from the teeth. This creates gum pockets, or small openings that the bad mouth bacteria can access. If the gums are not deep cleaned below the gums or at the roots, the gums will continue to loosen, allowing more and more bacteria to settle underneath.

If you have advanced periodontal disease, you need to have the condition treated immediately. We will normally suggest a scaling and root planing (SRP) for less advanced cases or gum flap surgery for advanced gum disease. Talk to us about your options. Set up an appointment with us for a complete periodontal exam (CPE) today.