Treating The Gum Disease:

Gum disease originates with an irritation of the tissues that surround and support the teeth, which is frequently affected by a lack of dental care. Gingivitis is a frequent ailment that can range from mild to severe. It is distinguished by red, puffy gums that start bleeding when teeth are frequently cleaned or flossed. Periodontitis is not the same as gingivitis. It always comes before and acts as a warning indication for the more serious periodontal illness. Check my blog about gum regrowth products to stop gum disease

Gingivitis occurs when food debris, saliva, and bacteria combine to produce dental plaque, which clings to the tooth surfaces. Dental plaque can mineralize and develop tartar or calculus if it is not eliminated by brushing and flossing. Tartar is tough to remove and can only be removed by an expert dental cleaning. 

The plaque and tartar contain dangerous bacteria that, if not removed from teeth, will irritate the gums and cause gingivitis. If left untreated, gingivitis will usually spread from the gums to the bone and lead to periodontitis. 

Stages of Gum Disease:

The main gum disease stages include

• Gingivitis
• Periodontitis.

Gingivitis:

Gingivitis is early gum disease. It changes the surface coatings of the gum, particularly where the gum joins the tooth. There is no harm to the deeper parts of the gums, teeth, or bone at this stage. 

The symptoms of gingivitis are: 

• bleeding gums, particularly when brushing or eating 
• redness and swelling of the gum.

The great news is that gingivitis can be reversed. Do not end brushing if your gums are red or puffy. Try to continue brushing with a soft toothbrush, as this will clear the bacteria and plaque creating the problem. Soon the gums should seem and feel better. If your gums do not change or keep bleeding, consult your dentist or oral health expert.

Periodontitis:

The gum’s role is to provide a protective covering for the bone that holds your teeth in place. The periodontium is the name given to the group that encloses and retains the teeth in place. The gum protects the periodontium by forming a seal around the tooth’s neck. Periodontitis is a periodontal illness caused by bacteria. It is a critical stage of gum disease that can develop if gingivitis is not treated.

Periodontitis affects the structures surrounding the tooth root (cementum), bone, and the fibers that connect the tooth root (periodontal ligament). Gaps can emerge between the tooth root and the gum when the gum seal is damaged by gum disease. These spaces are known as “periodontal pockets.”

Bacteria get trapped in these pockets, producing extra problems. damage to the periodontium. Bone is damaged and lost over time, resulting in more significant gaps between the tooth and the gum. If periodontitis is not treated, the mechanisms that anchor the tooth into the gum can become so damaged that teeth become loose and may need to be removed. Periodontitis is exacerbated by smoking and poorly managed diabetes. 

The following symptoms can identify periodontal gums: 

• bleeding gums
• swollen gums
• receding gums (the gum line contracts away from the tooth, making teeth look longer)
• bad breathing
• a bad taste in the mouth
• tenderness when eating
• loose teeth, or teeth that have shifted

If you believe you have any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your dentist or oral health professional. They can also remove plaque and chronic plaque professionally (calculus). Periodontitis can be cured if treated early on. 

What Causes Gum Disease?

The primary cause of gum disease is poor dental hygiene, which allows bacteria in plaque and calculus to collect on the teeth and harm the gums. Other factors, however, increase the likelihood of contracting gingivitis.

• Some of the most prevalent factors are given below:
• Tobacco use, whether smoking or chewing, limits the ability of gum tissue to recover.
• Crooked, slanted, or overlapping teeth add extra layers for plaque and calculus to build on and make cleaning more difficult. 

• Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy and menopause are often associated with an increase in gingivitis.
• The increase in hormones makes the blood vessels in the gums more vulnerable to bacterial and chemical attacks.
• Gingivitis is prevalent between 70 and 90 percent of the time during puberty.
• Cancer and cancer therapy can make a person more susceptible to infection, increasing the likelihood of gum disease.
• Alcohol harms oral defense mechanisms.
• Stress weakens the body’s immunological response to the bacterial assault.
• When the lips don’t protect the gums, mouth breathing can be painful, producing constant irritation and inflammation.

• Plaque formation will be aided by poor nutrition, such as a diet high in sugar and carbs and low water consumption.
• A shortage of essential nutrients, such as vitamin C, will also slow healing.
• Diabetes mellitus impairs circulation and the ability of the gums to recover.
• Antiseizure drugs, for example, increase the risk of gum disease.
• Dental care is scarce or non-existent.
• Inadequate saliva production 

Treatment For Gum Disease or Periodontitis:

Regular tooth brushing assists in periodontal disease treatment by removing the plaque that creates it. Remember to: 

• brush your teeth and near the gum line twice a day – in the morning and before proceeding to bed
• use a toothbrush with a tiny head and soft bristles, and a fluoride toothpaste
• Use floss, interdental brushes, or another tool supported by a dentist or oral health professional to wash between teeth.
• Plaque can quickly build up on dentures, raising the risk of gum disease around your natural teeth.

Other things that can assist in stopping gum disease and sustaining good oral hygiene : 

• quitting smoking
• for people with diabetes, managing blood sugar levels well-controlled will serve to decrease the risk of gum disease
• evading sugary foods and drinks, particularly between meals
• drinking lots of water (fluoridated where feasible)

What is the Treatment for Gum Disease?

Gum disease therapy aims to identify and eliminate the factors that predispose a person to gum disease. These factors can be decreased by practicing more regular and comprehensive oral hygiene and expert dental cleanliness. To successfully reverse gingivitis, specific risk factors, like smoking or uncontrolled diabetes, must be addressed or eliminated.

After a dentist or dental hygienist removes the plaque and tartar, the patient can typically beat gingivitis by brushing and flossing after every meal. A prescription mouth rinse that primarily targets oral germs that cause gum disease can be used under the supervision of a dentist. It is helpful in patients whose oral hygiene behaviors, such as brushing and flossing, have been compromised due to age or special needs. 

• In cases when gingivitis has progressed to the point of causing periodontal disease and deep pockets that are difficult to clean, the patient may require thorough scaling and root planing to clean teeth encircled by deep pockets.

•  They may require surgical therapy to gain access to everything of the tooth coverings and clean them thoroughly.
• This surgical procedure is known as flap surgery. It can be combined with pocket-reduction surgery to make the areas surrounding the teeth more comfortable to clean with brushing and flossing. This treatment involves numbing the gums and then elevating them to expose and clean the teeth and occasionally altering the bone. The gums are then realigned around the teeth, so the deep pockets survive before treatment.

• Soft-tissue grafts are made up of uprooting surfaces exposed by receding gums. It can help reduce sensitive teeth while also preserving the root surfaces, which are softer and more difficult to clean.
• Another treatment that can help improve gum health is laser therapy. A soft-tissue laser is used to sort the gum pocket to destroy the harmful germs deep in the periodontal pockets, eradicate unhealthy tissue, and stimulate healing. 

What Medications Are Used to Treat Gum Disease?

Peridex (chlorhexidine gluconate) is an antibacterial mouthwash that can be used under the supervision of a dentist to help reduce the germs that cause gum disease. Furthermore, antibiotic therapy can be linked in a variety of ways to improve periodontitis treatment.

Pellets or gels containing chlorhexidine or doxycycline, such as PerioChip, can be placed in deep gum pockets following deep scrubbing and root planning to eradicate resistant bacteria and reduce the size of periodontal pockets. These methods of administration are effective because the drug is administered gradually over seven days. Additional pain relievers, such as Xylocaine and NSAIDs, may be required during and after the treatments. 

Can Home Remedies or Natural Treatments be Effective for Gum Diseases?

• There is evidence to support the effectiveness of the following over-the-counter and natural gum disease treatments:
• Green tea contains antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation in the body.
• When used as a mouthwash or gel in a custom-fitted tray, hydrogen peroxide helps fight bacteria, but it cannot be consumed.
• Warm salt water rinses can help soothe painful mouth tissue.
• To neutralize the acids that burn the gum tissue, use baking soda diluted in water to rinse and brush the teeth and gum line.
• Oil squeezing
• There is insufficient data to suggest that sesame oil or coconut oil can help reduce the bacteria that cause gum disease, although it has become a modern trend.
• People have noticed improvement with this treatment on a case-by-case basis. 

What is the Best Gum Disease Treatment Toothpaste? 

Brushing removes plaque from the teeth, which harbors germs and contributes to gum disease and tooth decay. When combined with frequent, thorough brushing habits, almost any toothpaste will achieve this purpose. Fluoride in toothpaste, particularly stannous fluoride, kills microorganisms in the mouth. Other compounds in toothpaste aid in removing plaque and removing plaque from the teeth after brushing.

Caustic compounds included in toothpaste, including silicates and calcium carbonates, aid in the removal of sticky plaque. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a detergent in toothpaste that contributes to the foaming effect. Toothpaste contains varying amounts of SLS; a high quantity of SLS might cause complications for those who need to dry their mouth or have limited saliva flow.

Plaque-controlling ingredients in toothpaste, such as pyrophosphates and zinc citrate, prevent plaque from adhering to the teeth after brushing. The use of toothpaste containing any combination of these substances will improve the effectiveness of oral hygiene. 

Mouthwashes to Prevent Gum Disease:

There are numerous mouthwashes available, and this is by no means an exhaustive list. We’ve included over-the-counter therapeutic mouthwashes as well as those that require a dentist’s prescription.

These mouthwashes will aid in the treatment of gum disease. 

• Crest Pro-Health Multi-Protection
• Crest Pro-Health Advanced with Extra Whitening
• ACT Total Care Anticavity Fluoride
• ACT Dry Mouth
• Colgate Total Pro-Shield
• Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic
• TheraBreath Fresh Breath
• CloSYS Ultra Sensitive

Is Reversing Gum Disease Possible?

Gum disease can be reversed if the causes of early-stage gum disease (gingivitis) are correctly identified. The patient is diligent in improving their oral hygiene and seeking essential therapy. When the medication is administered in the early stages of gingivitis, the diagnosis is most accurate.

To shift the condition at this stage, the affected person usually requires a professional tooth cleaning and more thorough brushing and flossing. Once germs reach the bones in periodontitis, irreversible changes such as gum attachment loss and bone loss can ensue. As a result, detecting and treating gum disease as soon as possible is crucial. 

Jacquelyn Briner

Jacquelyn Briner is a passionate advocate for dental health, dedicated to sharing valuable insights and expert advice through her engaging articles. As the driving force behind Dental-Scaler, Jacquelyn strives to empower readers with the knowledge they need to maintain optimal oral well-being. Explore the world of dentistry with Jacquelyn at https://dental-scaler.com/ and discover a wealth of information to enhance your dental care journey.