Final answer:
Gum disease, particularly periodontal disease, can have severe consequences for dental and overall health, leading to tooth loss, cavities, and possibly affecting the jawbone. It requires proper hygiene and sometimes antibiotics to manage and can become a serious condition if left untreated.
Step-by-step explanation:
Contrary to the belief that gum disease is inconsequential, it actually bears severe impacts on dental and overall health. Periodontal disease starts with microbial infection that causes inflammation and irritation of the gums manifesting symptoms such as redness, bleeding, and halitosis (bad breath). If not addressed promptly with good oral hygiene, gingivitis, the early stage of periodontal disease, can progress to periodontitis, where the gums recede, exposing tooth parts below the crown.
As periodontitis advances, the cementum which anchors the teeth, gets eroded, potentially leading to loss of teeth. Moreover, the bacteria can penetrate the enamel, causing cavities. The jawbone can be affected in prolonged cases. For treatment, cleaning and dental hygiene are critical, but severe periodontitis may also require antibiotics like tetracycline, doxycycline, or macrolides for the mixed microbial cause.
Without treatment, consequences can extend beyond the mouth. Diseases like Trench Mouth, severe periodontitis with gum erosion and ulcers, cause great discomfort and require medical intervention. Thus, periodontal disease carries serious risks, contradicting the assumption that it is not harmful.