Did you know that almost half of people aged 30 and over in the U.S. show signs of gum
disease? Are you wondering if you have periodontal disease and you're wondering
what it is?
There are varying factors from mild
to severe gum disease. In this article, explore the answer to the question,
what is periodontal disease? Read on to discover the answer to this question
and more about this inflamed condition to get treatment today.
What
Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is another term
for gum disease. It's when you have a serious gum infection that damages the
soft tissue in your mouth.
Without treatment, it can lead to
damage to your teeth as well. This can cause tooth loss or loose teeth. The
following list is some symptoms but not all.
Symptoms:
- Bad breath
- Puffy gums
- Bleeding gums
- Redness
- Pain when chewing
- Gums that pull away from your
teeth
- Spaces between your teeth
What
Causes Gum Disease?
Within your mouth, there are
different bacteria. Gum disease natural care is an important part of keeping
your gums healthy.
This bacteria causes plaque to
buildup on your teeth. With proper brushing and flossing, you can reduce the
buildup.
If plaque isn't removed, it can lead
to tartar buildup. To remove tartar you'll need a dental hygienist or dentist.
Smoking is a common cause of gum
disease. It can also make treatment less effective as well.
Other causes can be hormonal
changes, diabetes, illnesses, and certain medications. Genetics can play a role
as well.
Prevention
To reduce your chances of gum
disease it's a good idea to brush at least twice a day and floss daily.
Continue your regular professional cleanings and checkups with the dentist as
well.
Eat
Healthily
Maintain a proper healthy diet with
nutrition to help fight infections. Different foods that contain vitamin E can
work as an antioxidant. For example green leafy vegetables, nuts, etc.
Get plenty of vitamin C which you
can find in potatoes, broccoli, and citrus fruits. This can help with repairing
damaged tissue in your body.
Avoid
Grinding Your Teeth
Grinding or clenching your teeth can
cause pressure on the tissue that supports your teeth. This can lead to an
increase in the tissues being destroyed.
If you're not sure how to stop
grinding or clenching your teeth, you can speak with a dentist or orthodontist
about wearing a permanent retainer when you sleep. Permanent retainers can help
protect your teeth from grinding and clenching.
If periodontal disease is more
serious, it might require deep cleaning of the tooth-root surfaces. Your
dentist might have medication placed underneath your gums. Corrective surgery
is another consideration as well.
If you can't afford a dentist, you
can check into dental schools in your area. They'll often offer you services at
a discounted rate.
Periodontal
Disease vs Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a less serious form
that occurs prior to periodontal disease. Gingivitis doesn't always lead to
periodontal disease if it's caught early.
During gingivitis, you might notice
plaque build-up. While the gums are irritated, your teeth are still in place.
If you don't treat gingivitis, it
can lead to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is when damage can occur
to the gums and teeth.
Diagnosing
Gum Disease
As soon as you notice a change in
your gums, it's a good idea to contact your dentist. During a dental exam,
they'll take a look at your gums to see if there's any swelling or bleeding.
Your dentist will also take a look
at your jawbone to see if there's any breaking down of the teeth. Also, if your
teeth are in proper alignment or are sensitive.
Gum
Disease Treatment
Treatment is there to reduce your
chances of an infection, swelling, and stop the disease from becoming worse.
Treatment will depend on how far along the disease is and your health.
There's restorative supportive
treatment options, therapy to control bacterial growth, and other options. Your
dental hygienist might do what's called root planning and scaling.
This is where tartar and plaque
buildup are removed from above and below your gum line. When they remove the
rough spots, this leads to a clean surface for your gums to reattach to.
If your gum disease is less serious,
you might just need a professional dental cleaning. They'll remove tartar and
plaque. If you have gum disease, your dentist might recommend you go in more
than twice a year.
Surgical
Treatment
Some surgical treatment options
include soft tissue grafts, bone grafts, and flap surgery. Bone grats are where
they'll use parts of your own bone, donated bone, or synthetic bone to replace
any bone destroyed by periodontal disease.
Soft tissue grafts fill in places or
reinforce thin gums where they're receding. It's often taken from the roof of
your mouth.
Flap surgery is where your gums are
lifted back for tartar to be removed. In some surgeries, the damaged bone is
smoothed out to limit where bacteria can go.
After this, your gums are placed
around your teeth. This will decrease the size of the space between the tooth
and gum. This also means fewer bacteria can get in and cause health problems.
Exploring
What Periodontal Disease Is
Now that you've explored what
periodontal disease is, you should have a better option what your treatment
options are. Don't delay getting medical treatment today whether you're
experiencing gingivitis or periodontal disease.
Would you like to read more health
content? For everything from lifestyle to health, check out our other articles
today.
