Periodontitis

General description of the disease

 

This is an infectious disease of the gums that is caused by bacteria that build up on the gums or on the teeth. The disease provokes inflammation of the periodontal tissues, which are support for the tooth. These tissues include bone, gums, and tooth mucosa. Together with the development of periodontitis, the so-called supporting apparatus of the teeth is destroyed, which can lead to their loss. It is worth noting that this disease is very common. Among the diseases of the oral cavity, the number of those suffering from periodontitis is ahead of only caries.

Causes of periodontitis

One of the most common causes of periodontitis is plaque, a yellowish film that naturally develops on teeth. It contains large quantities of bacteria that try to gain a foothold on the smooth surface of the tooth. Brushing your teeth daily can get rid of plaque, but it builds up over the course of the day.

If you do not brush your teeth for 2-3 days, this plaque begins to harden and forms tartar, which is more difficult to remove. This requires contacting a dentist. If it is not removed, then over time, the teeth and the tissues surrounding them begin to be damaged. This provokes the appearance of gingivitis.

Advanced gingivitis leads to the formation of gaps, “pockets” between the teeth and gums, which are filled with bacteria. Their abundance, as well as the direct reaction of the immune system to infection, begin to destroy the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth. Eventually they begin to loosen and may fall out.[1].

 

Symptoms of periodontitis

Healthy gums are strong, pale pink and fit snugly against the teeth. Signs and symptoms of periodontitis may include the following abnormalities:

  • swelling of the gums;
  • bright red, burgundy or purple gums;
  • painful sensations when touching the gums;
  • bleeding gums;
  • gums that partially peel off the teeth, exposing some of them, and thus making the teeth longer than usual;
  • free space that appears between the teeth;
  • pus between teeth and gums;
  • bad breath;
  • loose teeth;
  • painful sensation when chewing;
  • change in bite[2].

Types of Periodontitis

There are several different types of periodontitis. The most common among them are the following:

  • Chronic periodontitis – the most common type, which mainly affects adults. Although there are cases when this form of periodontitis also develops in children. It is caused by build-up of plaque and suggests a slow deterioration in the condition of the teeth. It may improve or worsen over time, but if left untreated, it always causes destruction of gums and bones, and then tooth loss.
  • Aggressive periodontitis usually begins in childhood or early adulthood and affects only a small number of people. If untreated, it progresses very quickly and leads to damage to the bone tissue of the teeth.
  • Necrotizing periodontal disease characterized by the death of gum tissue, dental ligaments and supporting bone caused by a lack of blood supply (necrosis), as a result of severe infection. This type usually occurs in people with suppressed immune systems – for example, those with HIV infection, being treated for cancer[2].

Risk Factors

This is what increases your risk of developing a condition or disease. For example, obesity is a risk factor for developing type XNUMX diabetes – which means that obese people have a higher chance of developing diabetes. The following risk factors are associated with a higher risk of developing periodontitis:

  1. 1 Smoking – regular smokers are much more likely to develop gum problems. Smoking also undermines the effectiveness of treatment.
  2. 2 Hormonal changes in women. Puberty, pregnancy and menopause are times in life when hormone levels in the body change dramatically. This puts you at risk of developing gum disease.
  3. 3 Diabetes – Patients who live with diabetes have a significantly higher incidence of gum disease than others of the same age.
  4. 4 AIDS – People with AIDS are more likely to suffer from gum disease. Plus, their immune systems are more vulnerable to infections.
  5. 5 Cancer is a cancer, and certain treatments can make gum disease more difficult.
  6. 6 Some medicines – medicines that, when taken, reduce salivation, are associated with a risk of gum disease.
  7. 7 Genetics – some people are genetically more susceptible to gum disease[1].

Prevention of periodontitis

You can prevent the appearance of periodontitis and gingvinitis if you properly care for your teeth and carry out regular preventive examinations with a doctor – we advise you to contact him for advice.

The dentist provides the patient with instructions on how to properly manage the oral cavity to reduce the number of bacteria. Your doctor can give you advice on how to properly use toothbrushes and floss and may prescribe other oral hygiene products such as mouthwash.

Here are some tips for keeping your teeth healthy:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
  • Consider using an electric toothbrush, which may be more effective.
  • Rinse your teeth with water after every meal or drink that stains the enamel – juice, tea, coffee, lemonade, etc.
  • Visit your dentist at least 2 times a year for a routine check-up.
  • Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
  • Have your teeth professionally cleaned by your doctor at least every six months. During this procedure, the dentist will remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and their roots, and then polish the teeth and treat them with fluoride. Any periodontal pockets formed may require deep cleaning to allow wound healing. The deep cleaning method will help remove tartar, as well as any rough spots on the root of the tooth, where bacteria are mainly collected[3].
  • Use dental floss or an interdental brush to clean the spaces between your teeth where a regular brush cannot reach, depending on the size of the space. This should be done once a day. Particular attention should be paid to thorough cleaning around uneven teeth or around fillings, crowns and dentures, as plaque builds up well in these areas.
  • Antibacterial mouthwashes are a beneficial addition to cleaning as they inhibit bacterial growth and reduce inflammation. They should be used after brushing your teeth.[4].

Complications of periodontitis

If left untreated, periodontitis can destroy the supporting structures of your teeth, including the jaw bones. Teeth are weakened and may fall out. Other complications of periodontitis include:

  • painful abscesses;
  • displacement of teeth, the appearance of distance between us;
  • receding gums;
  • an increased risk of complications during pregnancy, including low birth weight and preeclampsia (too high blood pressure, which can be a threat to both the pregnant woman and the fetus).

Treatment of periodontitis in mainstream medicine

Treatment usually focuses on removing plaque and bacterial deposits from the teeth and gums. If cleaning from plaque and calculus does not help, in which case the doctor can take the following measures:

  1. 1 Prescribing antibiotics. The doctor proceeds to this step to help manage recurrent gum infections that have not responded to cleaning. The antibiotic can be in the form of a mouthwash, gel, or oral tablet or capsule.
  2. 2 Monitoring the state of the oral cavity during treatment. To assess progress with treatment, your doctor may schedule appointments every few weeks, and then approximately every three to six months thereafter. If periodontal pockets are still present after taking antibiotics, the dentist may recommend another treatment option – surgery.
  3. 3 Operation. If inflammation persists in areas that cannot be cleaned, your dentist may recommend a procedure called flap surgery. It helps cleanse deposits under the gums. Under anesthesia, incisions are made in the gums through which the roots of the teeth can be cleaned. Then they are carefully sewn up. If you have lost bone mass from periodontitis, then bone grafting can be performed simultaneously with flap surgery[3].

Useful products for periodontitis

For the prevention of periodontitis, it is recommended to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables: apples, pears, cucumbers, carrots. First, they naturally help get rid of plaque, massage the gums, improve blood circulation in them, and also help improve the functioning of the digestive tract, because they are a source of fiber.

Also, periodontitis is often associated with a lack of useful trace elements, minerals and vitamin C. To prevent this problem, it is worth eating sweet peppers, citrus fruits, currants. This will be an excellent prevention of gum disease and will help strengthen the body as a whole.

To strengthen the gums, dentists recommend eating hard fruits and vegetables, but if periodontitis has developed to a stage where the teeth have begun to loosen or eating solid foods causes painful sensations, then, of course, you should not do this.

Include in your diet foods that contain calcium: cottage cheese, milk, cheese, kefir.

Traditional medicine for periodontitis

To combat periodontitis, St. John’s wort, chamomile, comfrey, sorrel, linden flowers, oak bark, juniper needles are often used. All of these plants (individually or as a collection) have a positive effect on the health of the gums and teeth.

You can also prepare the following medicines:

  1. 1 Mix equal amounts of fir and sea buckthorn oil, then disinfect your hands, wrap your finger with several layers of sterile bandage, dip it in the resulting product, and wipe your teeth and gums from all sides. This procedure must be carried out twice a day.
  2. 2 Prepare a decoction of oak bark and linden flowers in a 2: 1 ratio. Grind the oak bark into powder, fill it with cold water, put it on but the fire is boiling. When the infusion boils for 20 minutes, add linden flowers, let it brew for a few minutes, then cool the infusion and put it in your mouth once every 4-5 hours. It will help heal wounds and kill bacteria.
  3. 3 Chew the honeycomb with honey 2 times a day for 15 minutes.
  4. 4 Prepare a beeswax application: mix 2 tablespoons of wax, 3 tablespoons of peach oil, 3 tablespoons of gruel from fresh plantain leaves, and apply this mixture to the gums with gauze or a tampon.
  5. 5 Squeeze the juice from the leaves of Kalanchoe – such a flower grows in many houses and apartments. Soak a tampon with this juice and keep for about an hour.
  6. 6 Prepare an infusion of calendula and linden for rinsing. They must be mixed in equal parts, pour a tablespoon of the mixture with a glass of boiling water, let it brew, and then rinse several times a day.
  7. 7 If time permits, you can make a rinse tincture from a mixture of vodka (150 ml), propolis (25 g), and St. John’s wort (50 g). All ingredients must be mixed, and then infused for 2 weeks. Then prepare the rinse solution directly by dissolving 30 drops of the tincture in 100 ml of water. This procedure must be repeated 3-4 times a day.

Dangerous and harmful products for periodontitis

As we already wrote above, in the advanced stages of periodontitis, one should be careful about eating solid food, at least in general. You can grate fruits and vegetables or make fresh juices from them to get all the vitamins and elements necessary for the body.

It is also important to give up the use of sweets, as well as drinks that can provoke the appearance of plaque on the enamel: soda, coffee, black tea. If you cannot completely stop drinking tea, then it is better to switch to green.

Alcohol, as well as such a bad habit as smoking, is also prohibited.

Information sources
  1. The article “What is periodontitis? What causes periodontitis? ”, Source
  2. Article “Periodontitis”, source
  3. Article “Periodontitis”, source
  4. Article: “What is Periodontitis?” Source
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The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!

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