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Gum disease can even lead to tooth loss. Gingivitis is caused by bacteria. You should be concerned if your gums are red, bleeding when brushing, and when your teeth are moving. It could be periodontitis - a common gum disease.

Gum bleeding is the first evidence of gum disease. Most often it turns out to be inflammation, which can spread over time to the bone that supports the teeth.

Gingivitis is caused by the bacteria in the plaque. If it is not removed when cleaning the teeth and the spaces between them, it can build up and the bacteria will gradually destroy not only the gums and teeth, but eventually the jawbone and jawbone as well. The consequence of this destructive process may be the loosening or even the necessity to remove he althy teeth. Such a final most often (in 90% of cases) is the result of negligence in daily hygiene.

Although gingivitis is most often caused by bacteria (much less viruses), there are other causes as well. It can be a complication of leukemia, a consequence of allergies, severe vitamin C deficiency, smoking, drinking alcohol, taking certain medications (antiepileptics, cytostatics) or hormonal changes during pregnancy. In older people, it can be caused by a poorly fitting prosthesis.

Important

What should worry you?

  • gums are red, swollen, painful
  • they bleed when brushing
  • teeth look longer (due to receding gums)
  • tooth necks are sensitive to heat and cold
  • gums are separated from the teeth and form pockets
  • teeth move
  • pus escapes between the teeth and gums
  • bad breath or taste in mouth

Gum disease develops gradually

When plaque bacteria cause inflammation, your gums may bleed slightly when brushing and flossing. At this stage, the disease can be reversed.

However, if you do not react in time, periodontitis may occur, which is irreversible damage to the bones and fibers holding the teeth. The so-called gingiva starts to form under the gumline. pockets where food remains. Bacteria foundin these pockets have excellent conditions for reproduction. Fortunately, proper treatment combined with intensive oral hygiene can usually prevent further damage.

But when this process is not stopped in time, periodontitis worsens - the fibers and bone that support the teeth deteriorate and the gums lower, exposing the tooth roots. The teeth start to move - this is what parodontosis is.

Gum disease: treatment of periodontitis

Treatment of periodontitis is done in stages. The first phase is the removal of tartar (the so-called scaling) from the surface of the teeth. This already brings relief, because the gums can return to their place. The second stage of treatment, the so-called corrective, consists in surgical removal of enlarged pockets. If they are not deep and the teeth do not wobble yet, the doctor may decide to use the so-called curettage, i.e. cleaning and shallowing of the pockets by scraping out the stone deposited on the tooth root.

The dentist usually introduces medications (e.g. containing propolis, aloe, echinacea) into the inflamed gums, which firm and shrink the tissues and reduce their bleeding. Anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs stimulating tissue renewal are also injected under the gum mucosa. For therapy to be successful, 3 to 20 injections are required. Dentists also have a preparation (Emdogain) at their disposal, which biologically recreates the tissues surrounding the teeth damaged by periodontitis. Applied to the gingival pockets - it restores periodontal tissue.

Two types of lasers are also used in the treatment of periodontal diseases. Irradiation with "soft" (so-called biostimulation) accelerates bone regeneration and prevents teeth loosening. In the same way, gingivitis is treated. The "hard" laser, on the other hand, works like a surgical knife, but leaves no traces. Under the influence of a beam of light, diseased tissues evaporate and the pockets are cleared of scale. As a result, the he althy epithelium that forms in sweat immediately adheres to the sterile surface of the root. Using a "hard" laser, the doctor can painlessly remove the gingival margin damaged by bacteria.

Advanced periodontitis is also treated surgically (under full anesthesia). During the procedure, a special preparation is implanted in the places where the bone has been damaged, which stimulates the bone to renew. Sometimes the so-called natural implants, using a bone bank. Bone reconstruction takes about half a year.

Dangerous complications of gum disease

When the gums are sick, the entire body suffers. Pathogenic bacteria can enter the bloodstream. Diseases of the heart in peopleGums increase the risk of bacterial endocarditis (the lining of the heart) or the heart valves. The bacteria in the plaque release toxins that cause the immune system to produce chemical particles called cytokines. They can worsen existing inflammation and damage tissues throughout the body. For example, decayed teeth are known to always worsen arthritis, and researchers also believe that in people with diabetes, gum disease can make high blood sugar levels longer after meals. In addition, diabetic patients who suffer from periodontal disease do not respond well to antidiabetic treatment.

You must do it
  • Brush your teeth with a medium hardness toothbrush at least twice a day for 3 minutes using sweeping movements (from the gum to the crown); use toothpastes preventing periodontitis for washing. You can also get a special device consisting of a brush (massages the gums) and an irrigator (cleans the interdental spaces and massages the gums). Use dental floss to clean the spaces between the teeth. Use mouth disinfectants.
  • Massage gums to improve circulation. For this purpose, there are special rubber stimulators or brushes with rubber protrusions instead of bristles, intended for babies whose teeth are erupting.
  • Rinse your mouth with water after eating or chew sugar-free gum for 20 minutes.
  • 2-4 times a year (smokers more often) undergo a tartar removal procedure. When the roots are exposed, the dentist can polish them - this prevents the formation of plaque on them. The dentist can do this painlessly with the help of an ultrasound machine. This prevents gingivitis and sometimes, at the beginning of periodontitis, it is enough to heal it.
  • Perform the so-called panoramic x-ray of the teeth.
  • Visit your dentist every six months and heal your teeth and malocclusion.

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Category:

Dentistry and Orthodontics