Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gums and supporting bone that, if untreated, leads to loosening and loss of teeth.

It begins as gingivitis, in which plaque bacteria inflame the gum line, and progresses when inflammation spreads to the ligament and bone that anchor teeth. Pockets form between gum and tooth, bone recedes, and teeth may become mobile. Signs include bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, gum recession and sensitivity. Smoking, diabetes, genetics and poor plaque control raise the risk, and the disease is common among adults over thirty.

Dentists and periodontists assess it by measuring pocket depth around each tooth, checking for bleeding and using X-rays to gauge bone loss; the results are staged and graded by severity and rate of progression. Cannabinoids have been examined in laboratory and small clinical studies of oral inflammation, and the evidence is preliminary.