Be At Ease Without Gum Disease
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http://abhishekr24.sg-host.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/shutterstock_543619183.jpg” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.0.5″ min_height=”343px” height=”576px” max_height=”100px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” hover_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_divider color=”#2a2a2a” divider_weight=”3px” _builder_version=”3.2″ max_width=”50px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||10px|” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_intensity_slide=”30%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” hover_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Subtitle” _builder_version=”4.0.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”1035px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|8px|119px|||” custom_padding=”|||0px||” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_intensity_slide=”20%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” hover_enabled=”0″]Gum disease, What is it?
Gum disease is an inflammation, also known as periodontal disease, that can advance if not treated and progress to affect the bone. Your oral health is critical to your overall health and gum disease has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
There are 3 stages of the gum disease:
- Gingivitis – Is an inflammation of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth and characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed easily when teeth are brushed or flossed. It is also reversible with proper treatment.
- Periodontitis – Is the stage where the gum and bone recede and form pockets where residue of food can be accumulated and afterward create plaque, which presents the main cause of gum inflammation.
- Advanced Periodontitis – A stage of a severe gum damage, when there is no longer an anchor for the teeth and they get wobbly and loose. The result is usually a tooth loss, therefore, it is very important to catch and treat gum disease as early as possible.
The gum inflammation may pass unnoticed at first. It can form around teeth in the back of your mouth where you can’t see it. It is a dentist or a periodontist that can determine with certainty if you have some degree of gum disease.
A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, and in the placement of dental implants.
What are the causes?
Gum disease is mostly caused by improper oral hygiene. It allows bacteria in plaque to settle on the teeth and infect the gums. But there are other factors that increase the risk of developing gingivitis like:
- Smoking
- Crocked or overlapping teeth
- Stress
- Poor nutrition
- Medications (antiseizure medications promote gum disease)
- Diabetes Mellitus
How can patients avoid the gum disease?
Gum disease is best prevented through oral hygiene and plaque control. This involves:
-
- Regular brushing of your teeth at least twice a day and flossing.
- The use of electronic tooth brushes tend to make it easier to remove plaque and using a mouthwash after flossing and brushing your teeth also can help reducing the bacteria that cause gingivitis.
- Eating a balanced and nutritious diet
- It is a good practice to have regular, professional deep cleanings by your dentist or hygienist.
Treatment
The goal of gum disease treatment is to control infection and to arrest its progression.
Treatment options involve good nutrition, and proper brushing and flossing that can control the growth of harmful bacteria and in advanced paradentosis even surgery to restore supportive tissues.
Antibiotic Therapy can be combined in various ways to help treat gingivitis. There is also chlorhexidine. It is an antibiotic mouthwash that can be used under direction of a dentist to help reduce the bacteria. Antibiotics in the form of pellets can be placed in deep gum pockets to kill stubborn bacteria. Additional treatment such as xylocaine and NSAIDs may be needed for pain control in chronic gingivitis.
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