Gum diseases and their treatment

Gum disease, according to international statistics, most often affects people over thirty-five years of age. In the early stages of the disease, pain may be absent or mild. In older people (starting from forty-five years of age), gum disease is one of the most common causes of tooth loss.

Gum diseases include periodontitis, periodontosis and gingivitis. With periodontitis, inflammation develops in the periodontal tissues, affecting the alveolar processes and accompanied by the formation of plaque and tartar on the teeth and periodontal pockets, the release of purulent masses and the displacement of teeth, if the disease has progressed to a severe stage. The more advanced the disease, the more severe its consequences and the more difficult the treatment.

Periodontosis is characterized by a small amount of dental plaque, exposure of the tooth necks without the formation of periodontal pockets and signs of inflammation, and the occurrence of wedge-shaped defects. The teeth become excessively sensitive, and itching occurs in the gums. Tooth loosening can only occur with the development of a severe form of periodontosis with the exposure of the tooth root by half or more.

Gingivitis develops due to the accumulation of microorganisms as a result of non-compliance with oral hygiene standards. The occurrence of gingivitis can also be associated with incorrect orthodontic treatment techniques, which, combined with inadequate care of teeth and gums, provokes the development of pathogens, which in turn leads to the development of an inflammatory process.

What is gum disease called?

When the first symptoms of gum disease appear, you should immediately seek help from a dentist. Based on a general examination and existing symptoms, the dentist will be able to clarify the diagnosis and advise you on what gum disease is called, what measures should be taken to treat it, and how to prevent the disease from developing in the future.

The first signs of various gum diseases can be similar to each other, so it is extremely important to consult a doctor at an early stage of the disease to avoid adverse consequences in the future.

Gum diseases include gingivitis, periodontosis and periodontitis. With the development of complications, gingivitis can take a more severe form and turn into periodontitis, which is much more difficult to treat, especially in the later stages of the disease. Gum diseases, in turn, have different forms, and only a qualified doctor can differentiate them. With periodontitis, inflammation develops in the periodontal tissues, periodontal pockets form, pus is released, and subsequently the tooth root may become exposed.

Causes of gum disease

The causes of gum disease are quite varied, and it is possible to determine what exactly provoked a particular gum pathology in each specific case only by conducting diagnostics and passing all the necessary tests.

In addition to poor oral hygiene, factors that can trigger gum disease include nicotine abuse, tartar formation, vitamin deficiency, immune system dysfunction, pregnancy, concomitant systemic pathologies (diabetes, acute respiratory diseases, tonsillitis, etc.), malocclusion, poor-quality dental fillings, etc. The causes of such gum disease as periodontosis also include genetic predisposition, chronic diseases of internal organs, poor blood supply to the gums. The most common causes of such gum pathology as gingivitis include tartar formation, smoking, chemical irritation, bacterial accumulation, and caries.

The causes of periodontitis are divided into general and local. The former include such pathologies as diabetes mellitus, immunodeficiency states, chronic diseases. Local causes are associated with the penetration of microbes into the oral cavity, dental trauma, and bite disorders.

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Symptoms of gum disease

Symptoms of gum disease vary depending on the form and type of disease and may include the following:

• The occurrence of painful sensations in the gums;
• Bleeding gums;
• Swelling and redness of the gums;
• Bad breath;
• Formation of pathological periodontal pockets;
• Purulent discharge;
• Hypersensitivity of gums;
• Loose teeth;
• Accumulation of plaque or tartar on the teeth;
• Taste disturbances.

With periodontosis, the disease may be asymptomatic in the early stages. The occurrence of pathological periodontal pockets and the release of pus from them are characteristic of such a gum disease as periodontitis. At the same time, the size of pathological pockets can vary from small to very large, depending on the stage of the disease (mild, moderate or severe). During an exacerbation, painful pulsation may occur in the gums, the temperature rises, general weakness, severe swelling of the gums and the release of pus are noted.

Symptoms of acute gingivitis include redness and swelling of the gums, the formation of plaque on the teeth of a soft or hard consistency. During brushing, the gums may become inflamed and bleed. In chronic forms of the disease, in addition to redness of the gums, their upper layer peels off. With the development of hyperplastic gingivitis, the gums acquire a bluish-red hue, an unpleasant odor appears from the oral cavity, pseudopathological pockets form, and pus is released. With the ulcerative form of gingivitis, severe itching occurs in the mouth, ulcers form on the gums.

Symptoms of gum disease in the early stages may include the appearance of blood when brushing your teeth or biting hard foods, bad breath, and the deposition of tartar or plaque on your teeth.

Gum disease in adults

Gum diseases in adults most often occur as a result of poor oral hygiene, plaque formation and the development of pathogens. All these factors can lead to the development of such pathologies as periodontitis, periodontosis and gingivitis. These diseases can also be provoked by bite defects, crookedness or trauma to teeth, poor-quality filling or prosthetics.

Various systemic disorders, infectious or chronic pathologies can also lead to the development of gum diseases in adults. According to statistics, most people over the age of thirty-five experience gum diseases.

Gum disease in children

Most often, gum diseases in children are associated with the development of gingivitis. With this disease, an inflammatory process occurs in the gums, which occurs as a result of poor oral hygiene and the proliferation of bacteria. Timely and qualified treatment will help prevent the disease from progressing to a more complex form - periodontitis, the consequences of which can be quite serious.

The first step in treating gum disease in a child should be a visit to the dentist. Then, based on the general symptoms, appropriate treatment will be prescribed: the doctor will professionally clean the teeth from plaque, treat the oral cavity with antiseptics, prescribe vitamin and antibacterial drugs, give recommendations regarding the choice of toothpaste and proper care of teeth and gums.

Gum disease during pregnancy

During pregnancy, hormonal changes occur in a woman's body, as a result of which the blood supply to the mucous membranes is significantly reduced and, as a result, an inflammatory process may develop in the gums. They become swollen and painful, begin to bleed, a soft plaque forms on the teeth, and an unpleasant odor is felt from the oral cavity. Such signs may indicate the development of gingivitis. You should never delay a visit to the dentist, as the disease can develop into a more severe form and cause complications.

To treat gingivitis in pregnant women, plaque and tartar are removed and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Plaque can be removed mechanically or ultrasonically. As a local treatment, the patient may be prescribed rinses and irrigations of the oral cavity. Anti-inflammatory drugs are selected individually by the attending physician, taking into account the general symptoms of the disease and recommendations for use during pregnancy.

It is extremely important to treat gum disease during pregnancy at an early stage and prevent complications from developing. At the first alarming symptoms, a pregnant woman should immediately visit a doctor.

Diseases of teeth and gums

Diseases of the teeth and gums arise due to various reasons and can be closely related to each other or develop independently of each other.

The most common dental disease is caries, which is characterized by the destruction of hard dental tissues and the destruction of enamel. The causes of this pathology include poor oral hygiene, bacterial accumulation, and plaque formation. In advanced forms of the disease, caries can cause pulpitis, which is characterized by shooting pain in the area of the affected tooth, often intensifying at night. The pain can radiate to the jaw, facial area, and occur suddenly and be accompanied by painful pulsation. Tooth trauma can also lead to the development of pulpitis.

Gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis, when severe and complicated, can cause loosening of teeth, which can subsequently lead to their complete loss.

To prevent such severe consequences, gum disease should be treated at an early stage; it is also important to maintain oral hygiene, prevent the accumulation of bacteria and the formation of tartar and plaque.

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Gum diseases and their treatment

Periodontitis, periodontosis and gingivitis are quite serious gum diseases and their treatment should begin when the first signs of the disease appear: redness and swelling of the gums, bleeding, bad breath, and the appearance of plaque.

Treatment of gum diseases begins with the removal of plaque, dental cleaning of teeth, and treatment of the oral cavity with antiseptics. Treatment of gum diseases can be conservative or surgical. In case of periodontitis, depending on the size of the formed pathological pockets, a curettage procedure (closed or open) and flap operations are performed. In uncomplicated forms of this disease, rinsing the periodontal pockets and eliminating plaque, which helps relieve inflammation, may be sufficient for treatment.

Treatment of periodontosis is also accompanied by the elimination of dental plaque and cleaning the oral cavity from pathogenic microorganisms. If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical intervention is performed.

Treatment of gingivitis can also be surgical or conservative, depending on the stage and form of the disease. Conservative methods of treating gingivitis include professional oral hygiene, the use of drugs to relieve inflammation, the removal of plaque on the teeth, and disinfecting the oral cavity. Chlorhexidine is most often used for this purpose. If the edges of the filling material overhang, they must be removed. Orthodontic therapy is performed in case of bite disorders. As part of the complex treatment of gum diseases, the patient is recommended to quit smoking, and it is also necessary to regularly use a therapeutic and prophylactic toothpaste and brush your teeth at least twice a day in accordance with the dentist's recommendations for proper care of teeth and gums. Surgical treatment of gingivitis is aimed at eliminating pseudoperiodontal pockets. In the case of a long-term course of the disease, antibacterial and painkillers can be used.

How to treat gum disease?

The most effective treatment of gum disease is achieved in the early stages of the disease. When and how to treat gum disease can subsequently determine the health of your teeth, so the slightest signs of any pathology developing in the gums require a visit to a dental clinic and a consultation with an experienced doctor.

As a rule, treatment of gum diseases begins with professional cleaning of teeth and removal of plaque, cleaning of the oral cavity from accumulated bacteria. Then the treatment tactics are selected depending on the diagnosis and may include conservative or surgical methods.

Treatment of gum diseases with folk remedies

Folk remedies can be used as part of a comprehensive treatment for gum diseases as an adjunctive treatment method.

Treatment of gum diseases with folk remedies may consist of rinsing the mouth or wiping the gums with a gauze pad soaked in herbal ointment. To prepare a rinse, you can use propolis infused in alcohol with the addition of dried calamus and mint roots (two liters of thirty percent alcohol plus one hundred grams of calamus roots and large propolis). The tincture should be used after each meal and brushing your teeth for two to three weeks. This remedy helps to get rid of bleeding, relieve pain, and strengthen tooth enamel.

You can use fir oil to wipe your gums. To do this, add three to four drops of fir oil to one hundred grams of water, soak a gauze pad in the resulting solution and wipe your gums for two to three minutes twice a day. Before using any folk remedies, be sure to consult your dentist and make sure there are no allergic reactions.