How Difficult is Periodontal Disease To Treat?

Gingivitis the earliest form of gum disease is an inflammation of the tissues that surround and support the teeth and commonly occurs because of poor dental hygiene. The severity of the condition can vary widely between individuals despite being a common problem. It is characterized by swollen gums that bleed easily when brushing or flossing. Gingivitis cannot be considered as a periodontal disease but is always a warning sign for the more concerning problem of periodontitis.

Gingivitis begins when food particles mix with saliva and bacteria to form dental plaque that can usually be seen on the surface of the teeth. If it is not removed by brushing with toothpaste and flossing it becomes mineralized to form calculus or tartar. Tartar can only be removed by a dental professional because of its hardness.

Dental plaque and tartar are both filled with harmful bacteria that will irritate the gums and cause the condition of gingivitis. When it is left untreated gingivitis will extend from the gums to the bone and lead to the condition of periodontitis.

The Reasons for Gum Disease

Improper oral hygiene is the primary cause of gum disease as it allows bacteria in the plaque and tartar to remain on the teeth. However other factors that can increase the risk of gingivitis also exist. Given below are some of the common factors of this condition:

• Rotated, crooked or overlapping teeth adequate spaces for the plaque and tartar to accumulate making them difficult to clean.
• Using tobacco in any form prevents the gum tissue from healing itself.
• Cancer treatment can make people susceptible to the infection and increase the risks of gum disease.
• Breathing from the mouth can be harsh on the gums when they are not protected by the lips. This can cause chronic irritation and inflammation.
• The formation of plaque will increase when people have a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates with low water intake. A deficiency of vitamin C can also impair healing.

What Are the Symptoms of Gingivitis?

One or more of the following gum disease or periodontal disease symptoms will be displayed by people affected by gum disease:

• Swollen and bright red gums that bleed easily when brushing and flossing.
• Gums that appear as pulling away from the teeth.
• Changes in the way the teeth fit together in the mouth or spaces opening up between the teeth.
• Tooth loss or lose teeth.
• Pus between the gums or interdental spaces.

As gingivitis progresses into the condition of periodontitis the affected individual will develop receding gums and deep pockets will begin to form around the teeth to trap food, plaque, and debris. As periodontitis progresses the individual may begin to lose gum tissue or bone around the teeth causing them to become loose and fall out. The changes may develop slowly or rapidly affecting either a few teeth or the entire mouth.

The possibilities of having gingivitis or periodontitis without noticing any symptoms exist and therefore regular visits to the dentist near you are necessary to determine the specific risk level of the patient. The dentist must be considered as a primary care provider of the mouth who can provide all the facts and information necessary for diagnosing gum disease and even offer some tips for gum disease treatment. Being a common condition gum disease affects many people and therefore even the dentist open on Saturday will be able to provide some advice if you visit him or her routinely.

Gum Disease Treatment — Which Is the Best?

Avoiding gum disease is perhaps the best treatment and can easily be accessed by everyone by brushing and flossing regularly at home and maintaining proper oral hygiene. Unfortunately, many people do not pay attention to this requirement and fall prey to gingivitis.

The treatment objectives for gingivitis is to identify and eliminate any factors that are making the individual susceptible to gum disease. Professional dental cleanings and thorough oral hygiene habits can eliminate most factors. Certain risk factors like smoking and diabetes that contribute to gum disease need to be addressed or eliminated to succeed in reversing gingivitis.

Patients with advanced periodontal disease will be required to undergo deep cleaning with scaling and root planing to clean their teeth that are surrounded by deep pockets. They may also need surgical periodontal disease treatment in the form of flap surgery to access the tooth surfaces for cleaning properly. Laser therapy can also help to increase the health of the gums by eliminating the harmful bacteria deep inside the periodontal pockets.

Gum disease is entirely preventable if proper oral hygiene practices are maintained. However, if the condition of gingivitis is allowed to progress to periodontitis the individual will need intensive treatment that will be ongoing for an extended period. In such cases, it will be better for the individual to contact the dentist in Park Ridge, IL, for advice on how to gain control over the problem effectively.