Left untreated, it can eventually cause a loss of bone around the teeth, causing them to loosen and die.
This can be treated with cleaning below the gumline with a procedure called scaling and root planing.
However, people with periodontitis must realize that it is a chronic inflammatory disease and a lifelong regimen of good oral hygiene, including proper brushing and professional care from a dentist/hygienist or periodontist, is necessary to keep the problem in check over the long term.
