Periodontal disease

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/periodontal-disease

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Periodontal disease
2. What is the primary etiological factor?Dental plaque biofilm
3. What are the tiny invaders that can hurt my gums?They are bacteria that build a sticky plaque on teeth, like Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola.
4. Why do my gums sometimes bleed when I brush?When plaque builds up, the bacteria trigger the gums to swell and become red, and the immune system tries to fight them, which can cause bleeding.

Dysbiosis: An imbalance in the microbial community within the mouth.
Virulence Factors: Substances produced by bacteria that enable them to cause disease.
Cytokines: Signaling molecules that regulate inflammation and immune responses.
Alveolar Bone: The bone in the jaw that holds the roots of teeth in place.