What is the term used for the infection of gums, bone, and teeth?

The term used for the infection of gums, bone, and teeth is periodontitis. This condition is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. It typically arises from poor oral hygiene that encourages plaque to form on teeth, leading to inflammation of the surrounding gum tissue.

Periodontitis is characterized by the deepening of the pockets between the teeth and gums, and may involve the loss of tooth-supporting bone. It represents a more advanced stage of gum disease compared to gingivitis, which affects only the gums, and is generally reversible with good oral hygiene and professional treatment. Other terms such as osteomyelitis refer specifically to bone infection, while stomatitis pertains to inflammation of the mucous membrane in the mouth, neither of which specifically encompass the infection involving the teeth and supportive structures like periodontitis does.