Gum decay is better known by most people as gum disease. Gum disease and gum decay are basically the same things: they represent the gums being perpetually attacked by bacteria and germs, and ultimately becoming infected and decaying. The early signs of gum decay are called gingivitis, which if left untreated can rapidly progress into periodontitis.
Gum decay is something that should be taken very seriously, because the lining of gums can easily become infected with bacteria if tartar and plaque (biofilm) on the teeth is not removed daily and treated annually with cleanings at your dentist's office.
When the gums become infected they form gum pockets, which are pockets of infection that cause the gums to detach from the teeth and that can attack the teeth, the bones, the jaw and the gums, ultimately causing gum decay, tooth decay and tooth loss.
Who Gets Gum Decay? Gum decay is perhaps the most common disease in the world. As a matter of fact, about eight out of ten people will suffer from gum decay during their lifetime. Experts say that about eighty percent of all people already do suffer from gum decay. Needless to say, it's so common that gum disease is considered to be the most common and prevalent of all disease worldwide during the present day, which is a shockingly alarming statistic.