What do we need to know about periodontitis?

Periodontal disease is a medical term used in dentistry to summarize the underlying disease states of the gums. These diseases are inflammation of the gums and / or dysfunction of the connective tissue in the fibers that support the teeth.
The mildest, primary form of periodontal disease is called gingivitis. This condition is relatively easy to treat. If the right moment for the timely and adequate treatment of gingivitis is missed, the periodontal disease grows into its second, more severe phase - periodontitis or periodontitis. Both names are associated with chronic gum disease. Periodontitis is characterized by chronic inflammation of the ligaments and bones that surround the teeth. It should be noted, however, that periodontitis can be controlled, even cured forever.

How does periodontitis occur?

In medicine, there is still no unequivocal opinion about the specific cause that leads to periodontitis. Most often it is a complex of several reasons, namely:
1. Extremely low oral hygiene. This includes irregular visits to the dentist, delay or lack of treatment of damaged teeth.
2. Harmful eating habits.
3. Smoking.
4. Stress.
5. Presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the plaque. Although we have huge amounts of them in our mouths every day, some of them are infectious. They are the causes of periodontitis.
6. Genetic predisposition.

What are the symptoms of periodontitis?

It should be noted that most symptoms of gingivitis and periodontitis are similar. They differ only in the degree of manifestation. In periodontal diseases we most often observe the following symptoms:
1. Inflammation of the gums, which manifests itself as swelling, severe redness, pain and discomfort.
2. Bad breath as a result of these inflammatory processes.
3. Bleeding gums. In the beginning, it is observed only when brushing your teeth. Subsequently, bleeding may occur at the slightest touch, for example during a meal.
4. Withdrawal of gums and baring of teeth.
5. Forming pockets around the teeth (possibly filled with purulent fluid)
6. Shake single or all teeth.
7. Tooth loss.
Improper or untimely treatment of periodontitis can cause serious problems for the patient's health related to other parts of the body and entire organ systems. Examples include digestive disorders, masticatory dysfunction, as well as endocarditis, lung disease and even type 2 diabetes.

Periodontitis - methods of treatment

Proper and timely diagnosis is essential to manage a chronic condition called periodontitis. In theory and practice, there are various types and interventions of therapies against periodontitis, including:
1. It is recommended that treatment always begin with careful removal of tartar. Cleaning and polishing of the root surfaces located under the gum. Teeth are cleaned by a dentist at least twice a year and after controlling the disease.
2. In severe inflammatory processes, antibiotics may be prescribed. Rodogyl is one of the most commonly used preparations for this purpose.
3. Conservative therapy is also used - application of medical devices such as gels and specialized mouthwashes.
4. In case of strongly shaken teeth, their splinting may be necessary. This stabilizes the teeth and prolongs their life.

Prevention and maintenance of periodontitis

The best treatment for periodontitis, of course, is prevention. There are a number of useful practices that you can use to protect your gums and teeth, especially if you are genetically predisposed to periodontitis. Incidentally, a large part of these preventive measures is the set of tips for maintaining an already treated and controlled periodontal condition in the oral cavity, namely:
1. Quit smoking.
2. Perfect oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth after all meals, at least three times a day. The use of an interdental brush and floss is an excellent option for maintaining the disease, as well as regular splashing with mouthwash.
3. Adherence to a healthy diet. Reduce the number of meals to three per day. Stop "snacking" on sweets and pasta (with the exception of fruit).
4. Regular visits to the dentist for professional cleaning and polishing of teeth.

In Dental Clinic Aleksandar Valev you will find an adequate, modern and maximally painless solution for dealing with the problem called periodontitis. We advise you to visit a specialist immediately at the slightest suspicion of this insidious disease.