The most common chronic disease you've probably never been told you have
Periodontal disease — commonly called gum disease — is the leading cause of tooth loss in Australian adults. It is more prevalent than asthma, diabetes and heart disease in the Australian population. Yet the majority of people who have it receive no treatment, and many have no idea it exists.
What the data shows
The Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH) National Dental Survey found that approximately 22.9% of Australian adults have moderate to severe periodontitis, with a further estimated 28% having mild disease. When gingivitis (early-stage gum inflammation) is included, the majority of Australian adults have some form of periodontal condition at any given time.
The 2022 AIHW report Oral health and dental care in Australia identified that dental disease — of which periodontal disease is a major component — costs the Australian healthcare system over $10 billion annually. Despite this, gum disease remains dramatically under-treated in primary dental care.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease exists on a spectrum:
- Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gum tissue caused by bacterial plaque accumulation. The gums become red, swollen and bleed on brushing or flossing. At this stage, the condition is fully reversible with professional cleaning and improved home care.
- Periodontitis: When gingivitis is left untreated, the inflammation progresses below the gumline, causing destruction of the bone and connective tissue that support the teeth. This bone loss is not reversible. Teeth become loose and eventually fall out or require extraction.
Why does it go undetected?
Gum disease is largely painless until the advanced stages. Patients often notice bleeding gums when brushing but attribute it to brushing too hard rather than recognising it as a sign of disease. Without regular professional examinations that include periodontal probing — measuring the depth of the space between the tooth and the gum — early-stage disease is invisible to the patient.
A 2017 study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology found that over 60% of patients with early periodontitis were unaware of their diagnosis at the time it was identified by a dentist. This reflects both the asymptomatic nature of the early disease and the gaps in regular dental attendance across the Australian population.
The systemic connection
Periodontal disease is not isolated to the mouth. A substantial and growing body of research links active periodontal infection to systemic conditions including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and emerging research connecting periodontal pathogens with Alzheimer's disease. Oral health is a systemic health issue, not a cosmetic one.
Warning signs you should not ignore
- Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
- Gums that appear red, swollen or pulled away from the teeth
- Persistent bad breath not explained by diet or dry mouth
- Teeth that appear longer (gum recession)
- Sensitivity at the gumline
- Teeth that feel loose or have shifted position
- Pain when chewing
Treatment
Early-stage gingivitis is treated with a professional scale and clean plus improved home care. Periodontitis requires more intensive treatment including deep scaling below the gumline (often called root planing or subgingival debridement), carried out over multiple appointments under local anaesthetic. Severe cases may require periodontal surgery or specialist referral.
The single most important thing you can do is attend regular dental check-ups that include periodontal charting — measuring the pocket depths around every tooth. This allows disease to be detected and treated before irreversible bone loss occurs.
At Lumi Dental, Melrose Park
Every new patient check-up at Lumi Dental includes a periodontal assessment. We provide clear, plain-language explanations of what we find and what it means. If you have not had a dental check-up in the last 12 months, book one now — new patient check-up, clean and X-rays are $149. Open 7 days at Melrose Central.
