An advance form of gum disease is called periodontitis. It is referred to a a chronic gum infection which is characterized by a loss of attachment between the tooth and the jawbone. It is the obvious leading cause of tooth loss among American adults. Periodontitis begins in the shallow pocket where the tooth and gum meets, usually as a milder form of gum infection known as gingivitis. It is usually due to poor oral hygiene habits that bacteria can grow in this pocket. The gum starts to pull away from the tooth deepening the pocket, making it harder to clean and encouraging the formation of tenacious tartar deposits below the gumline. This gum infection can cause the bones and gums to become inflamed and slowly disappear,undermining the attachment to the tooth and can eventually lead to loss of teeth.