When you just brushed your teeth, did you see any blood in the sink? One of the initial indicators of gum disease may be bleeding. The mild form is known as gingivitis. Just your gums are infected when you have that. If you don’t address it, the infection might penetrate your bone and extend past your gum line. Periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease, develops after that. It has been demonstrated that periodontitis and gingivitis both increase your chance of developing conditions including diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, pneumonia, and cancer. Your greatest option is early detection.
Depending on the severity of your gum disease, how you responded to previous treatments, and your general health, there are several treatment options available. Treatment options include both surgery to rebuild supporting tissues and nonsurgical treatments that inhibit bacterial development.
Gum infections types
In most cases, tooth plaque buildup is what causes gingivitis. Inadequate dental hygiene is only one of several potential contributing variables, which also include:
- Many medicines, such as cyclosporine, calcium channel blockers, phenytoin, and oral or injectable birth control (these medications can cause gingivitis or make it worse because they can lead to an overgrowth of gum tissue and make plaque hard to remove).
- severe lack of vitamin C (this is rare in the United States)
- hormonal adjustments, such as those that take place during menopause and pregnancy
- Leukaemia
- Nickel, a hefty metal that is used in various jewelry
- Exposure to bismuth, a substance included in several cosmetics
Certain gum infections that result in gingivitis are unrelated to plaque accumulation. They consist of:
- some viral or fungal illnesses, such thrush
- an impacted tooth, or tooth that doesn’t fully emerge (if this happens, the flap of gum over the tooth can trap debris and cause gingivitis)
Treatments for Periodontitis
Depending on the severity of the condition, how you responded to previous treatments, and your general health, there are many gum disease therapies available.
non-surgical procedures. Non-surgical therapies include the following:
Professional cleaning of the teeth
During a regular examination, your dentist or dental hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar (plaque that builds up and hardens on the tooth surface and can only be eliminated with professional cleaning) from above and below the gumline of your teeth. Your dentist might advise scheduling professional dental cleanings more frequently than twice a year if you exhibit symptoms of gum disease. These cleanings do not address gum disease that is currently active. Yet, these are significant preventative strategies.
Root planing and scaling
A local anesthetic is used during this thorough cleaning. The rough places on your tooth roots are smoothed out during this operation, while plaque and tartar from above and below your gum line are removed (planing). By removing the germs from these rough areas, you provide a clean surface for your gums to reattach to your teeth. If your dentist or periodontist discovers that you require plaque and calculus (hardened plaque, also known as tartar) under your gums removed, scaling and root planing is performed.
Medications
The illness of the gums cannot be cured by a miracle drug or cream. Some possibilities are:
Antiseptic chips or antibiotic microspheres
You implant these minute gels or particles into gum pockets, and they release medication gradually over time to help shrink the pocket and eliminate bacteria.
Antibiotic gel
After a thorough cleaning, you apply antibiotic gel to gum pockets to aid with infection control.
Enzyme suppressant
In order to prevent some oral enzymes from destroying gum tissue, you should take an enzyme suppression pill after a thorough cleaning.
Operative procedures
If the tissue around your teeth is sick and cannot be treated non-surgically, you could require surgery. The following kinds of gum disease include surgery:
Surgery to remove flaps or reduce pockets
Your gums will be pulled back during this operation, and tartar will be removed. The injured bone’s uneven surfaces may occasionally be smoothed to reduce the amount of space where pathogenic germs can hide. After that, your gums are positioned so that the tissue around your tooth is tight. Your gums and teeth now have less space between them. Also, it reduces the potential for dangerous bacteria to proliferate and lowers your risk of developing gum disease-related major health issues.
Tissue regeneration that is guided
This therapy, which is used when the bone supporting your teeth has been damaged, stimulates the growth of your bone and gum tissue. A little piece of mesh-like cloth is put between your bone and gum tissue during flap surgery. This prevents your gum tissue from encroaching on the bone’s natural space. As a result, your bone and connective tissue may develop again, supporting your teeth more effectively.
surgery on bones
This can fill up shallow craters left by mild or severe bone loss. After flap surgery, the bone around your tooth is modified to make it more difficult for germs to colonize and flourish.
Medicines for Gum Disease
Antibiotics can be used alone, in combination with surgery and other treatments, or both to diminish or eradicate the bacteria that cause gum disease. They can also aid in preventing the bone connection to your tooth from being destroyed.
In your mouth or in periodontal pockets, chlorhexidine (Peridex, PerioChip, PerioGard) is an antibiotic used to treat plaque and gingivitis. This drug can be used as a mouthwash or as a gelatin-filled chip that is inserted into pockets during root planing. For around 7 days, the medicine is released. Gum disease may also be treated with other antibiotics, such as doxycycline, tetracycline, and minocycline (Arestin). The optimum medications for you will be determined by your dentist.
Conclusion
The majority of gum disease treatments may be completed at your dentist or periodontist’s office. Individual differences will affect how long the process takes, how uncomfortable you feel, and how long it takes for you to recover. These could be influenced by the kind and scope of the surgery you undergo as well as your general health. To numb the treatment region, you could get local anesthetic. Your dentist could prescribe you medication to calm you down if required.
What are the signs and symptoms of gum infections?
Signs and symptoms of gum infections may include redness, swelling, tenderness, bleeding, bad breath, and pus formation around the gum line. In more severe cases, gum infections can cause loose teeth, tooth loss, and bone loss.
What are the best ways to prevent gum infections?
The best ways to prevent gum infections are to practice good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing twice a day, flossing daily, using mouthwash, and visiting a dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. Avoiding tobacco and maintaining a healthy diet can also help prevent gum infections.
What are the treatment options for gum infections?
The treatment for gum infections depends on the severity of the infection. For mild cases, improved oral hygiene habits and a professional cleaning may be enough to resolve the infection. For more advanced cases, your dentist may recommend scaling and root planing or periodontal surgery. Antibiotics may also be prescribed in some cases.
What can happen if a gum infection is left untreated?
If a gum infection is left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis, which can cause significant damage to the gums, teeth, and bone. Periodontitis can cause the teeth to become loose or even fall out. In addition, gum infections have been linked to several other health problems, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
