Changes

Initially, the bacterial flora tend to be non-motile aerobes or facultative anaerobes. However, as the supply of oxygen is reduced by supragingival plaque accumulation and pocket formation, the bacterial flora become more motile and anaerobic. Important bacterial flora responsible include ''Porphyromonas gingivalis, Bacteroides asaccharolyticus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinomyces viscosus'' and ''Actinomyces odontolyticus''.  

Initially, the bacterial flora tend to be non-motile aerobes or facultative anaerobes. However, as the supply of oxygen is reduced by supragingival plaque accumulation and pocket formation, the bacterial flora become more motile and anaerobic. Important bacterial flora responsible include ''Porphyromonas gingivalis, Bacteroides asaccharolyticus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinomyces viscosus'' and ''Actinomyces odontolyticus''.  

[[Gingivitis]] and periodontitis are the two main forms of the disease. Gingivitis is the early form of the disease and often but not always progresses to periodontitis.

Gingivitis and periodontitis are the two main forms of the disease. Gingivitis is the early form of the disease and often but not always progresses to periodontitis.

Gingival inflammation starts because of dental calculus (tartar) from diets high in minerals and diets consisting of soft rather than hard crunchy food. Dental plaque becomes calcified and whole [[Enamel Organ#Crown|crown]] may become covered in brown chalky material. Calculus gives brittle dirty brown covering to tooth which may not affect [[Enamel Organ#Enamel|enamel]] at all but may produce mild gingivitis round edge and the gum may start to recede. This exposes more of crown, may reach level of [[Enamel Organ#Dentine|dentine]] and infection may enter the alveolus and loosen ligaments holding tooth in and ultimately the tooth will become loose and fall out.

Gingival inflammation starts because of dental calculus (tartar) from diets high in minerals and diets consisting of soft rather than hard crunchy food. Dental plaque becomes calcified and whole [[Enamel Organ#Crown|crown]] may become covered in brown chalky material. Calculus gives brittle dirty brown covering to tooth which may not affect [[Enamel Organ#Enamel|enamel]] at all but may produce mild gingivitis round edge and the gum may start to recede. This exposes more of crown, may reach level of [[Enamel Organ#Dentine|dentine]] and infection may enter the alveolus and loosen ligaments holding tooth in and ultimately the tooth will become loose and fall out.