Periodontitis is a common dental disease that affects about 90% of the world’s adult population. Just like tooth decay, it leads to tooth loss. But while almost everyone knows about the dangers, causes and prevention of tooth decay, periodontitis is still a little-known disease for many people.
Periodontitis – what is it?
Our teeth are surrounded by what is known as the periodontium. It consists of gum, blood vessels, connective tissue and bone. The periodontium provides nutrition to the hard tissues of the tooth and the alveolar process (the part of the jaw where the tooth cavities are located). It also holds the tooth tightly in place.
Periodontitis is an infectious inflammation of the periodontium. It is most often preceded by gingivitis, in which the surface of the gum becomes inflamed. There is bleeding, discomfort. With periodontitis, the inflammation penetrates deeper, symptoms may increase.
Why it is important to monitor gum health: the hidden dangers of periodontitis
Periodontitis is a common dental disease that affects about 90% of the world’s adult population. Just like tooth decay, it leads to tooth loss. But while almost everyone knows about the dangers, causes and prevention of tooth decay, periodontitis is still a little-known disease for many people.
Causes of Periodontitis
Periodontitis is caused by bacteria. And those factors, thanks to which in the oral cavity creates a favorable environment for their nutrition and reproduction, are the cause of this disease. These include:
- Poor oral hygiene. After eating, food particles remain in the spaces between the teeth, in the gum pockets (the cavity between the gum and the tooth tissue). This is a great breeding ground for bacteria. And the less often or more carelessly we brush our teeth, the greater the chance of inflammation.
- Tartar. Every day, plaque, a biofilm of bacteria, forms on our teeth. Once it hardens, it forms tartar, which provokes inflammation of the tissues adjacent to the tooth.
- Traumatization of the gums by hard food, poorly fitted fillings or crowns, hard toothbrushes, etc. Wounds are a favorable environment for pathogenic microorganisms.
Also to the factors contributing to the development of periodontitis, include:
- Untreated dental inflammation (it spreads to nearby tissues);
- Weakening of immunity due to avitaminosis, malnutrition, constant stress;
- Smoking and chewing tobacco;
- Hormonal disorders;
- Reduction in the amount of solid food in the diet and, as a consequence – bone atrophy;
- Genetic predisposition.
Symptoms and complications
The insidious thing about periodontitis is that most often it runs quietly, without pain. Its symptoms are unpleasant, but they do not bother you enough to run to the hospital. And at a routine examination at the dentist, they are often even forgotten to mention them. Therefore, the disease is not treated for years, until it turns into a neglected form.
Be sure to see a doctor if you notice at least one of the following signs:
- Your gums bleed when you brush your teeth;
- You have bad breath that doesn’t go away after rinsing or brushing your teeth;
- The spaces between your teeth have enlarged;
- Some areas of your gums are bright red;
- There is a “pocket” between your tooth and gum;
- Enamel has become sensitive to cold and hot;
- There is permanent yellow plaque on the area of the tooth adjacent to the gum;
- Teeth seem to have become thinner at the base, lengthened;
- Pus is coming out of the gum pockets;
- You feel pain when chewing and brushing your teeth.
It is dangerous to let the disease run its course. Over time, inflammation destroys the tissue, periodontal pockets enlarge, teeth no longer hold in them and eventually fall out – even healthy, untouched by decay.
Degrees of severity of periodontitis
Depending on the severity of periodontitis, there are differentiated:
- Mild degree, when a person is only concerned about bleeding and discomfort when brushing teeth. At this stage, no more than a third of the tooth root is destroyed, and the depth of periodontal pockets is up to 3 mm.
- Medium degree, in which the pockets deepen to 6 mm, and degenerative (destructive) processes affect up to half of the tooth root. The patient at this stage notices that the teeth are beginning to loosen.
- Severe degree, during which the appearance of the tooth row changes – the interdental spaces increase, the roots of the teeth are exposed. Gum pockets increase, becoming foci of purulent inflammation, as food gets into them. More and more periodontal tissues are destroyed and teeth begin to fall out.
How to treat periodontitis?
Modern methods allow you to cure even severe forms of periodontitis. But it will not be possible to restore the already destroyed tissues in any case. That is why you can not allow periodontitis to pass into a severe form.
The scheme of treatment of periodontitis usually provides:
- Elimination of sources of infection. Sanitation of the oral cavity is carried out: treatment of carious teeth, removal of tartar, cleaning of periodontal pockets;
- Regular thorough oral hygiene. The dentist explains to the patient how to brush teeth properly, how often. Recommends therapeutic toothpastes and rinses;
- Eliminating bacterial infection in the periodontium. Usually the fight is conducted both at the local level (antibacterial ointments, applications, rinses) and at the systemic level – antibiotic injections or tablets are prescribed;
- Strengthening of immunity with the help of multivitamin complexes, mineral supplements, immunomodulatory drugs;
- Correction of the bite, improperly installed crowns or fillings, which caused inflammation;
- General strengthening, restorative therapy for periodontal tissues with the help of physiotherapeutic procedures and medications;
- Correction of destroyed tissues, tooth row in neglected cases. Here surgical methods are used.
Preventive measures
Treatment of periodontitis is a complicated process. Therefore, it is best to prevent its development. Preventive measures include:
- Regular examinations by a dentist (at least twice a year);
- Thorough and proper brushing of teeth. The brush should be of medium stiffness, brushing movements should be directed towards the cutting edge of the teeth, the duration of the procedure – at least 5 minutes;
- Regular professional cleaning of tartar in the clinic;
- Rinse the mouth after meals;
- Regular use of dental floss or irrigator;
- Include in your diet solid food, which improves blood supply to the gums and bone tissue of the jaw, as well as naturally cleans the teeth from plaque;
- Careful attitude to the mucous membrane of the mouth, preventing its traumatization;
- Maintaining a good general tone of the body, strengthening the immune system;
- Timely prosthetics of missing teeth;
- Regular massage of the gums – an uncomplicated procedure that can be carried out independently. To do this, it is enough to massage the gums with your fingers for 5-10 minutes (having washed your hands beforehand);
- Timely treatment of common diseases.
