MedlinePlus: Gum Disease

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- Mouth and Teeth
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- Services and providers for Gum Disease in the U.S.
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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Gum Disease is the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
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Gum Disease

Also called: Periodontal disease

If you have gum disease, you're not alone. About 80 percent of U.S. adults currently have some form of the disease. It ranges from simple gum inflammation, called gingivitis, to serious disease that results in damage to the bone.

In gingivitis, the gums become red and swollen. They can bleed easily. Most people can reverse this with daily brushing and flossing and seeing their dentist regularly. Untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontitis. The gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets that are infected. If not treated, the bones, gums and connective tissue that support the teeth are destroyed.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

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Periodontal (Gum) Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
Also available in Spanish

Basics	Learn More	Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews Diagnosis/Symptoms Treatment Prevention/Screening	Disease Management Specific Conditions Related Issues	Pictures & Photographs Health Check Tools
Research	Reference Shelf	For You
Anatomy/Physiology Clinical Trials Genetics Research Journal Articles	Dictionaries/Glossaries Directories Organizations Statistics	Children Teenagers Women Seniors

Overviews
- Fighting Gum Disease: How to Keep Your Teeth(Food and Drug Administration)
- Frequently Asked Questions about Periodontal (Gum) Disease(American Academy of Periodontology)
- JAMA Patient Page: Periodontal Disease(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF
- Periodontal (Gum) Diseases(American Academy of Periodontology)
Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Periodontal Examination and Probing(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
Treatment
- Antimicrobial Therapy(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
- Bone Grafts (Periodontal Regenerative Surgery)(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
- Gum Surgery(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
- Laser Dentistry(Academy of General Dentistry) - Links to PDF
- Osseous Surgery(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
- Periodontal Plastic Procedures(American Academy of Periodontology)
- Periodontal Procedures(American Academy of Periodontology)
- Scaling and Root Planing(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
Prevention/Screening
- Cleaning Your Teeth and Gums (Oral Hygiene)(American Dental Association)
- Oral Health: Preventing Cavities, Gum Disease, and Tooth Loss(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Plaque: What It Is and How to Get Rid of It(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) - Links to PDF
  Also available in Spanish
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Disease Management
- Maintenance Therapy(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
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Specific Conditions
- Abscess(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
- Gingivitis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis (NUG)(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
- Pericoronitis(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
- Periodontitis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Trench Mouth(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Types of Periodontal Disease(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
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Related Issues
- Endocarditis Prophylaxis Information(American Heart Association)
  Also available in Spanish
- Fallacies about Gum Disease(American Academy of Periodontology)
- Frequently Asked Questions about Periodontal (Gum) Disease and General Health(American Academy of Periodontology)
- Mouth Body Connection(American Academy of Periodontology)
- Prevent Diabetes Problems: Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  Also available in Spanish
- Tobacco Use and Periodontal Disease(American Academy of Periodontology)
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Pictures & Photographs
- Periodontal Disease: The Sequence of Destruction(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
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Health Check Tools
- Assess Your Risk for Gum Disease(American Academy of Periodontology)
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Anatomy/Physiology
- Parts of Your Teeth and Gums(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
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Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Dental Plaque(National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Gingival Diseases(National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Periodontal Diseases(National Institutes of Health)
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Genetics
- Scientists Discover First Gene Involved in Gum Overgrowth(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
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Research
- Researchers Uncover Higher Prevalence of Periodontal Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients(American Academy of Periodontology)
- Stress May Leave Your Mouth a Mess(American Academy of Periodontology)
- Study Evaluates Periodontal Disease Contributing to Diabetes Risk(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
- Want Healthy Gums? Hit the Dairy Aisle(American Academy of Periodontology)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Fourth and forty?
- Article: Inflammation and Alzheimer's disease: possible role of periodontal diseases.
- Article: Aggressive periodontitis: laser Nd:YAG treatment versus conventional surgical therapy.
- Gum Disease -- see more articles
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Commonly Used Terms(American Academy of Periodontology)
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Directories
- Find a Periodontist(American Academy of Periodontology)
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Organizations
- American Academy of Periodontology
- American Dental Association
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
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Statistics
- FASTATS: Oral and Dental Health(National Center for Health Statistics)
- National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Children
- Protecting Children's Oral Health(American Academy of Periodontology)
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Teenagers
- Gum Disease(Nemours Foundation)
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Women
- Baby Steps to a Healthy Pregnancy and On-Time Delivery(American Academy of Periodontology)
- How Pregnancy Affects Your Oral Health(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
- Menstrual Cycle Affects Periodontal Health(American Academy of Periodontology)
- Periodontitis Associated with Preeclampsia in Pregnant Women(American Academy of Periodontology)
- Postmenopause and Periodontal Disease: What Women Need to Know(American Academy of Periodontology)
- Pregnancy Tumor(Columbia University Medical Center, School of Dental & Oral Surgery)
- Women and Periodontal Disease: Protecting Oral Health Throughout Your Life(American Academy of Periodontology)
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Seniors
- How to Keep a Healthy Smile for Life(American Academy of Periodontology)
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