Although all gum disease can be serious, the mildest form is a gum inflammation known as gingivitis.
A person suffering from gingivitis has red, swollen gums which are prone to bleeding during daily brushing and flossing.
Despite the bleeding, the gums are usually painless or only mildly tender.
Periodontitis causes the gums to pull away from the teeth and form pockets that can become infected.
If not treated promptly and properly, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss as well as severe damage to the bone, gums and connective tissues that support the teeth.
As bad as that is, the problems caused by periodontitis go even deeper.
Gum disease can cause your body to react with an inflammatory response which can contribute to heart problems.
Inflammatory markers present in the blood show the inflammation associated with gum disease can spread throughout the body and contribute to the accumulation of plaque on the inner arterial walls.
Obviously, the early detection and treatment of gum disease is important to your overall health, so let's take a look at gingivitis and periodontitis, the two forms of gum disease.
Gingivitis Gingivitis is the result of plaque deposits that have been allowed to remain for long periods of time on the exposed surfaces of the teeth.
Plaque is a sticky, colorless film comprised of food debris, bacteria and mucus.
It is a major cause of tooth decay and will harden into tartar if not removed from the teeth regularly.
If allowed to form, tartar becomes trapped at the base of the tooth, where it and plaque irritate and inflame the gums.
Bacteria living within plaque produce toxins as byproducts, and these toxins cause the gums to become infected, swollen and tender.
Any type of injury to the gums can also cause gingivitis, including brushing or flossing the teeth too vigorously.
The symptoms of gingivitis can include one or more of the following conditions:

• Bright red or reddish-purple gums
• Swollen gums
• Shiny gums
• Gums that bleed easily, even during gentle brushing
• Gums that are tender to the touch but cause no pain otherwise
• Mouth sores

Some people are more likely to develop gingivitis than others.
Poor dental hygiene, poor overall health, pregnancy and uncontrolled diabetes all increase a person's risk of developing gingivitis, as can misaligned teeth and poorly-fitting braces, dentures, bridges or crowns.
Many people have a certain amount of gingivitis.
The condition often develops during puberty or early adulthood and then persists if the gums and teeth are unhealthy or the person has poor oral hygiene.
Treatment involves a dental professional removing the tartar and plaque, but the patient must also follow good oral hygiene practices for the rest of his or her life.
As mentioned earlier, untreated gingivitis can progress to the more serious form of periodontal disease called periodontitis.
Periodontitis Given enough time, plaque can extend below the gum line.
The bacterial toxins within the plaque irritate the gums and stimulate an inflammatory response within the body.
The body essentially turns on itself and tissues and bone surrounding and supporting the teeth are broken down and significantly damaged or even destroyed.
Pockets (spaces between the gums and the teeth) are formed as the gums pull away from the teeth.
These pockets fill with plaque and tartar and are highly prone to infection, leading to even more gum and bone destruction.
The patient may have very few symptoms of the disease's progression, but eventually the teeth will loosen and require extraction.
When symptoms of periodontitis are present, they can include some or all of the following:

• Bright red or reddish-purple gums
• Shiny gums
• Swollen gums
• Gums that bleed extremely easily, even during gentle brushing
• Gums that are tender to the touch but cause no pain otherwise
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth

As you can see, many of the symptoms of periodontitis resemble those seen in gingivitis.
This similarity is to be expected, as periodontitis can normally be viewed as the progression of untreated gingivitis over time.
Periodontitis is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
Meticulous oral hygiene is needed to prevent gum disease, along with regular visits to your dentist for professional teeth cleaning.
Taking good care of your teeth and gums is definitely worth it.