Overcoming Periodontal Disease: A Personal Journey

Dedication to wearing retainers followed my Invisalign treatment. Despite occasional forgetfulness, I wore them almost daily for a year, aiming to keep my teeth aligned. Unexpectedly, changes began. Teeth started to separate and felt loose. Initially, I thought my infrequent retainer use was to blame.

The widening gaps prompted me to push my retainers onto my teeth, a difficult task as they no longer fit properly. Believing more orthodontic treatment could solve the problem, I scheduled a dental appointment, thinking I might need Invisalign again.

Instead, the diagnosis was life-altering: severe bone loss from advanced periodontal disease. This gum condition harms the tissues and bones holding teeth and can lead to their loss. Shockingly, about 42% of adults over 30 experience it; however, I never expected it at my age.

The specialist revealed my bone loss matched someone in their sixties, a staggering discovery for someone in their twenties. Before this, I was unaware of periodontal disease and its severity. My teeth loosened because the disease destroyed their supporting bone. As the bone diminished, stability decreased.

Periodontal disease affects the gums and bones supporting all teeth, so its advanced stage threatened many or even all of them. Only my right lateral incisor fell out naturally. Yet, the disease’s severe impact led my dental team to conclude the rest were unsalvageable.

Ultimately, I faced full-mouth dental implant replacement. Losing my teeth at 25 was devastating, impacting my confidence and mental health. Hearing bone deterioration expected at 65 was a shock, making me feel my world was crumbling.

Reflecting now, I’m thankful for the experience. It became a platform to inform others. Connecting with those in similar situations or unaware of periodontal disease highlighted the need for awareness.

My permanent implants now allow me to smile confidently, transforming my life. Losing teeth at 25 wasn’t anticipated, but sharing my story emphasizes awareness importance. If it helps someone recognize early gum disease signs, including bleeding, red or swollen gums, receding gums, loose teeth, or unexpected gaps, and seek timely treatment, then positives arose from this difficult experience.

Jonathan Peralta Jr., a special education teacher from New Jersey, documents his journey on TikTok (@.just.jp), showing his adjustment to life with and without teeth.

Reference: Wang, Y., Zhao, X., Yu, Y., Wang, Y., Zhao, X., Yu, Y. (2025). The burden of severe periodontitis in the United States. The Journal of the American Dental Association. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2025.09.015.

Contact Newsweek editors: Charlotte Nisbet and Emma Lee-Sang.