10 Sep How Gum Disease Causes Bone Loss in the Jaw
Gum disease causes infections that lead to bone loss. This not only makes tooth loss more likely, it also changes the shape of your jaw and face. Inflammation and infections underneath the gums slowly start to eat away at the bone structure in your jaw. This not only makes tooth loss more likely, it also changes the shape of your jaw and face.
It’s a quiet process. You won’t feel it happening. But the longer that gum disease goes untreated, the greater the damage.
Who Is at Risk for Gum Disease?
Gum disease isn’t rare or unusual. In fact, if you’re over 30, you probably already have early stage gum disease.
Nearly half of all adults have gum disease, and the risks climb sharply with age. Unfortunately, living in a desert climate also increases your risk, because it tends to cause chronic dry mouth. This lets plaque and tartar build up faster, and soon enough, the irritation and inflammation turn into full-blown periodontal disease.
The Link Between Gum Disease and Bone Loss
The same bacteria that inflame your gum tissue can also inflame your bone tissue when the infection spreads from your gums to your jaw. That inflammation triggers the growth of osteoclasts, specialized cells whose entire job is breaking down bone.
Once osteoclasts are activated in the gum tissue, they start dissolving the jawbone that anchors your teeth, and that process doesn’t reverse itself without treatment.
Osteoporosis Can Cause Complications, Too
Bone loss in the jaw doesn’t only happen because of gum disease. Since teeth are not bones, osteoporosis doesn’t affect them directly. But if it weakens your jawbone, your teeth can loosen and fall out just the same.
Gum disease and osteoporosis often show up together, especially in women over 50. The two conditions also share several risk factors, especially age, along with things like a history of smoking or a calcium-poor diet.
Staying on top of your calcium and vitamin D intake plays as big a role in protecting your bone health. And don’t skip your dental exams! Bone loss often shows up first in routine dental x-rays.
Non-Invasive Treatment for Gum Disease
Ozone therapy is a great option for those looking for a more holistic approach to gum disease treatment. It’s a painless, non-invasive treatment that helps kill bacteria and reduce inflammation without surgery or antibiotics. It also stimulates blood flow to help your gum tissue heal faster.
Early-stage gum disease responds well to these simpler treatments, which is exactly why it pays to deal with it sooner rather than later. However, if your gum disease has advanced to the point where it’s causing bone loss, more invasive treatments may be necessary.
Gum Disease Treatment in Prescott, Arizona
If it’s been a while since your last cleaning, or you’ve noticed your gums bleeding or a tooth feeling a little loose, that’s worth a visit. Our team at Prescott Dentistry offers a holistic dental approach, taking a whole-health approach to your gums and jawbone. Reach out to our Prescott dentist to discuss periodontal therapy, which focuses on getting ahead of gum disease early.
We’re conveniently located at 350 Whipple St, right in the heart of Prescott. Contact us to get your gums checked before bone loss has a chance to set in.
Photo by Shawn Augustine on Unsplash with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 7/28/26.