Medication
- Get your teeth professionally cleaned and if you need deep scaling, get that done also (You have to start off with a clean mouth).
- If your disease state is severe enough and you are referred to a periodontist…GO!
- You can only, at home, clean about 3mm below the gums, so if you have deeper pockets, get them treated professionally,
Procedures
This includes:
- Soft tissue grafts. A small amount of tissue is removed from the roof of your mouth and attached to the affected area.
- Flap surgery — or pocket reduction surgery. Here, tiny cuts are made in your gums to lift your gum tissue. ...
- Bone grafting. ...
- Tissue-stimulating proteins. ...
- Guided tissue regeneration. ...
Self-care
This should include:
- Brushing – brush your teeth every day after each meal. ...
- Flossing – you need to remove the food particles that get stuck between your teeth after each meal as they are breeding grounds for toxic bacteria. ...
- Rinsing – the final step in your daily routine should be using a mouthwash to rinse away the left over bacteria. ...
Nutrition
What to Expect on the Day of Surgery
- Before the Surgery. You'll have a thorough dental cleaning before osseous surgery is performed. ...
- During the Surgery. A periodontal specialist will numb the infected area with a local anesthetic and begin cutting around the teeth.
- After the Surgery. Once your surgery is complete, you'll be ready to head home. ...
What can I do to treat my own periodontal disease?
What do you need to know about periodontal disease treatment?
How to reverse periodontal disease naturally without surgery?
What to expect from periodontal treatment?
See more
What does periodontal treatment involve?
The procedure involves lifting the gums off of the teeth to remove tartar buildup. After the surgeon has cleaned the area and removed the tartar, they will stitch the gums into place to fit around the teeth. Sometimes, the bone may require reshaping during this procedure.
What is the main cause of periodontal disease?
It's usually the result of poor oral hygiene. Brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily and getting regular dental checkups can greatly improve your chances of successful treatment for periodontitis and can also reduce your chance of developing it.
How long does it take to heal periodontal disease?
If you have the first stage of gum disease, gingivitis, you can usually expect to heal and recover within 14 days of getting a deep cleaning, assuming you take your prescribed antibiotics and maintain proper oral hygiene by brushing and flossing thoroughly.
Is periodontal disease curable?
Left unchecked, your mouth can develop gingivitis, or a more serious gum infection, periodontitis (periodontal disease). It's important to note that once gum disease progresses into periodontitis the disease has become irreversible. Periodontitis cannot be cured, but only managed.
Does periodontal disease go away?
Can you reverse periodontal disease? The damage done by gingivitis can often be reversed by ridding your gums of the infection. Periodontitis is more advanced, however, and often does damage to your teeth and gums that's impossible to reverse without extensive dental treatments.
What is the best mouthwash for periodontal disease?
Top 3 Best Mouthwash for Periodontal DiseaseTheraBreath Periodontist Recommended Healthy Gums Oral Rinse. ... Crest Pro-Health Gum and Breath Purify Mouthwash. ... Colgate Peroxyl Antiseptic Mouthwash and Mouth Sore Rinse, 1.5% Hydrogen Peroxide.
Can I save my teeth with periodontal disease?
Saving teeth from periodontal disease is possible if you detect the signs and symptoms early or regularly visit your dentist for cleanings and exams. Let the condition progress unhindered, and tooth loss should be considered as an eventuality.
What happens if you don't treat periodontitis?
Periodontitis (also called periodontal disease) is gum disease. This infection damages the soft tissue around your teeth and wears away the bone supporting them. If left untreated, the disease eventually ruins the bone, loosening the teeth and causing them to fall out.
Can you reverse periodontal disease naturally?
You can reverse some cases of mild periodontal disease naturally. By adopting a rigorous, careful oral hygiene routine, you can control the spread of bacteria and limit the progression of the disease. Here are some things you can do: Brush your teeth twice a day with quality fluoride toothpaste.
How can I prevent periodontal disease?
Fortunately, you can prevent periodontitis through good oral hygiene. Brush and floss teeth regularly and see your dentist for checkups and cleanings. You can get rid of plaque before it builds up and causes problems. By doing so, you can keep your gum and teeth healthy for the long-term.
What bacteria causes periodontitis?
Periodontitis is a localized infectious disease caused by periodontopathic bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis.
What is the primary cause of gingivitis and periodontal disease?
The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene that encourages plaque to form on teeth, causing inflammation of the surrounding gum tissues. Here's how plaque can lead to gingivitis: Plaque forms on your teeth.
What is the goal of periodontitis treatment?
The goal of periodontitis treatment is to thoroughly clean the pockets around teeth and prevent damage to surrounding bone. You have the best chance for successful treatment when you also adopt a daily routine of good oral care, manage health conditions that may impact dental health and stop tobacco use.
Why do periodontists make incisions in gums?
Your periodontist makes tiny incisions in your gum so that a section of gum tissue can be lifted back, exposing the roots for more effective scaling and root planing. Because periodontitis often causes bone loss, the underlying bone may be recontoured before the gum tissue is sutured back in place.
How to tell if you have periodontitis?
To determine whether you have periodontitis and how severe it is, your dentist may: Review your medical history to identify any factors that could be contributing to your symptoms, such as smoking or taking certain medications that cause dry mouth. Examine your mouth to look for plaque and tartar buildup and check for easy bleeding.
What happens when you lose gum tissue?
When you lose gum tissue, your gumline recedes. You may need to have some of the damaged soft tissue reinforced. This is usually done by removing a small amount of tissue from the roof of your mouth (palate) or using tissue from another donor source and attaching it to the affected site.
What is the procedure to cover exposed roots?
This can help reduce further gum recession, cover exposed roots and give your teeth a more pleasing appearance. Bone grafting. This procedure is performed when periodontitis has destroyed the bone surrounding your tooth root.
What is the best treatment for bacterial infection?
Antibiotics. Topical or oral antibiotics can help control bacterial infection.
How to get rid of plaque between teeth?
Use a mouth rinse to help reduce plaque between your teeth, if recommended by your dentist. Supplement brushing and flossing with an interdental cleaner, such as a dental pick, interdental brush or dental stick specially designed to clean between your teeth.
What is the best way to treat periodontal disease?
Your dentist or periodontist may determine that antibiotics are necessary to treat your periodontal disease. After root planing, he may insert antibiotic chips in the gum pockets that will slowly dissolve and release medication to kill bacteria in a small area without influencing your entire body.
How to get rid of a periodontal infection?
Apply antibiotic gel, if prescribed. Your dentist or periodontist may prescribe you antibiotic gel to apply to your gums twice daily after brushing, flossing, and irrigation. This gel kills bacteria, and will help get your periodontal infection under control.
Why do you need to see your dentist after a periodontal cleaning?
After your deep cleaning, you will need to see your dentist more frequently so that she can measure the periodontal disease pockets and ensure that they are healing. If the disease is not improving sufficiently, she will then make recommendations for further treatment.
How to diagnose periodontal disease?
1. Visit your dentist for an exam. Your dentists will examine your teeth and gums, take x-rays, and assess the extent of your gum disease by measuring the depth of periodontal pocket. She will then have you schedule a deep cleaning and give you instructions on oral hygiene and home care leading up to that appointment.
What happens if you leave periodontal disease untreated?
Periodontal disease is a serious bacterial infection of the gums that, if left untreated, will eventually destroy the gums, ligaments and bones supporting your teeth, leading to tooth loss.
How to floss your teeth?
Floss your teeth at least once a day. Begin with an 18-inch piece of floss. Wrap it around your two middle fingers leaving a gap of 1 to 2 inches in between. Then slide the floss between two teeth, and wiggle it up and down and back and forth, several times. Keep in mind that plaque and food can get stuck under the gum line, so this is what you want to target with the floss. Be sure to wrap the floss around each tooth, and floss all the way to your gums, extending as far as you can without causing discomfort. Then repeat the process on the next tooth, moving to a new section of the floss, as it becomes soiled or frayed. Make sure that once you have placed the floss between two teeth you are flossing two surfaces. Once you have this down, the entire process should only take two or three minutes per day.
What is the procedure called when you have to remove tartar from your gums?
The most basic surgical option is called flap surgery, in which your dentist or periodontist will make an incision in your gums, lifting them back to clean and remove the tartar, infected bone, and necrotic cementum underneath. The flap is then sutured back into place, up against your teeth.
What are the signs of periodontal disease?
The following are warning signs of periodontal disease: Bad breath or bad taste that won’t go away. Red or swollen gums. Tender or bleeding gums. Painful chewing. Loose teeth. Sensitive teeth. Gums that have pulled away from your teeth. Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite.
How many people have periodontal disease?
47.2% of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease . Periodontal disease increases with age, 70.1% of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease. This condition is more common in men than women (56.4% vs 38.4%), those living below the federal poverty level (65.4%), those with less than a high school education ...
Why do my gums bleed?
Periodontal diseases are mainly the result of infections and inflammation of the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth. In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums can become swollen and red, and they may bleed.
What is the most serious form of tooth decay?
In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or even fall out. Periodontal disease is mostly seen in adults. Periodontal disease and tooth decay are the two biggest threats to dental health.
What happens when bacteria in your mouth is on your teeth?
Bacteria in the mouth infect tissue surrounding the tooth, causing inflammation around the tooth leading to periodontal disease. When bacteria stay on the teeth long enough, they form a film called plaque, which eventually hardens to tartar, also called calculus.
Can periodontal disease be treated?
More severe forms of periodontal disease can also be treated successfully but may require more extensive treatment. Such treatment might include deep cleaning of the tooth root surfaces below the gums, medications prescribed to take by mouth or placed directly under the gums, and sometimes corrective surgery.
Can tartar build up on gums be removed?
Tartar build-up can spread below the gum line, which makes the teeth harder to clean. Then, only a dental health professional can remove the tartar and stop the periodontal disease process.
What are the different types of periodontal disease?
There are different forms of periodontal disease, but the following are the most common: 1 Chronic gingivitis. A reversible, milder form of periodontal disease, marked by inflammation, redness, and bleeding gums. There is no bone loss with gingivitis, and as noted, it is easily preventable! 2 Aggressive periodontitis. A rapid loss of gum attachment and bone destruction in a short period. 3 Chronic periodontitis. The most common form of periodontitis. It progresses slowly. 4 Necrotizing periodontal disease. An infection resulting from the death of gum tissue surrounding the tooth and connecting bone. Its common symptoms are a foul odor and painful bleeding gums.
What is the first stage of gum disease?
Gum disease is a sneaky, progressive disease. Here's why: the first stage, called gingivitis, occurs when bacterial plaque is not thoroughly removed from your teeth.
What does it mean when your gums are red?
A periodontal abscess can sometimes occur from advanced gum disease. This abscess appears as a red, swollen lesion on the gumline. If you suddenly feel a sharp pain in your gums, it's best to see a dentist quickly, as the sooner an abscess gets treatment, the better!
Why do teeth get loose?
Toxins from this buildup of bacterial plaque affect your gum tissue and the bone and ligaments that support your teeth. As the infection causes periodontitis to spread to the bone and supporting tissues, your teeth may become loose and need removal. But even advanced cases of periodontal disease don't have to progress to this point.
Why do dentists cover roots?
Your dental professional takes gum tissue from your palate or another source and uses it to cover the roots of one or more teeth. Covering exposed roots helps reduce sensitivity and protects your roots from decay while stopping further gum recession and bone loss.
What is the sign of gum disease?
Gingivitis to Periodontitis. A significant indicator of gum disease is inflammation, which is the body's way of shielding, guarding, and protecting itself from infection. Think of it as a blowfish puffing up to scare away predators!
How to prevent tooth decay?
Avoid sugary foods and drinks as they contribute to tooth decay. Instead, build a well-balanced diet. It should consist of plenty of hydration, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, meats, and dairy to make a robust immune system ready to fight disease!
How is gum disease treated?
Gum (periodontal) diseases are treated in a variety of ways depending on the stage of disease, how you may have responded to earlier treatments, and your overall health. After a thorough periodontal evaluation, recommendations for treatment range from non-surgical therapies to surgical procedures.
How to treat gum disease?
What are non-surgical treatments for gum disease? 1 Professional dental cleaning: During a typical checkup, your dentist or dental hygienist removes plaque and tartar that build up and harden on the tooth surface. (Plaque is the ‘film' that covers teeth, which can lead to cavities and gum disease. Tartar is the hard, yellowish deep deposit on teeth,) When plaque and tartar reach this level of build up, they can only be removed with professional cleaning. Cleaning removes plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line of all your teeth. If you have some signs of gum disease, your dentist may recommend professional dental cleaning more than twice a year. 2 Scaling and root planing: This is a deep-cleaning, non-surgical procedure that is done under local anesthesia. Hardened plaque and tartar (also called calculus) are scraped away (scaling) from above and below the gum line. Also, any rough spots on the tooth root are made smooth (planing). Smoothing the rough spots removes bacteria and provides a clean surface for the gums to reattach to the teeth. 3 Customized: Sometimes control of plaque and inflammation of gum tissue can be done without surgery. Antibiotics, with products like minocycline HCl (Arrestin®) or chlorhexidine (PerioChip®), can be placed in the mouth in the space between the gums and teeth (the periodontal pocket).
Why are the gums placed around the tooth?
The gums are then placed so that the tissue fits snugly around the tooth. Reducing the space between the gum and tooth also limits the areas where harmful bacteria can grow.
What is the name of the antibiotic that is used to treat gingivitis?
Chlorhexidine (Peridex®, PerioChip®, PerioGard® and other over-the-counter trade names) is an antibiotic used to control plaque and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) in the mouth or in periodontal pockets (the space between the gums and teeth).
What is guided tissue regeneration?
Guided tissue regeneration: Performed when the bone supporting your teeth has been destroyed, this procedure stimulates bone and gum tissue growth. Done in combination with flap surgery, a small piece of mesh-like fabric is inserted between the bone and gum tissue.
Can a dentist perform a periodontal procedure?
Your dentist or periodontist can perform most procedures in the office. The time needed to perform the procedures, your degree of discomfort, and time needed to heal vary from patient to patient. Other factors are the type and extent of the procedure and your overall health.
Can you smooth out a rough spot on your gums?
Smoothing the rough spots removes bacteria and provides a clean surface for the gums to reattach to the teeth. Customized: Sometimes control of plaque and inflammation of gum tissue can be done without surgery.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Preparing For Your Appointment
Specialist to consult
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Causes
- Treatment may be performed by a periodontist, a dentist or a dental hygienist. The goal of periodontitis treatment is to thoroughly clean the pockets around teeth and prevent damage to surrounding bone. You have the best chance for successful treatment when you also adopt a daily routine of good oral care, manage health conditions that may impact d...
Warning Signs
- Try these measures to reduce or prevent periodontitis: 1. Brush your teeth twice a day or, better yet, after every meal or snack. 2. Use a soft toothbrush and replace it at least every three months. 3. Consider using an electric toothbrush, which may be more effective at removing plaque and tartar. 4. Floss daily. 5. Use a mouth rinse to help reduce plaque between your teeth, if recomme…
Risk Factors
- You may start by seeing your dentist. Depending on the extent of your periodontitis, your dentist may refer you to a specialist in the treatment of periodontal disease (periodontist). Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and what you can do to prepare.
Prevention and Treatment
What Is The CDC Doing About Periodontal Disease?
Podcasts About Periodontal Disease and Diabetes
- The following are warning signs of periodontal disease: 1. Bad breath or bad taste that won’t go away 2. Red or swollen gums 3. Tender or bleeding gums 4. Painful chewing 5. Loose teeth 6. Sensitive teeth 7. Gums that have pulled away from your teeth 8. Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite 9. Any change in the fit of partial dentures
Additional Resources
- Certain factors increase the risk for periodontal disease: 1. Smoking 2. Diabetes 3. Poor oral hygiene 4. Stress 5. Heredity 6. Crooked teeth 7. Underlying immuno-deficiencies—e.g., AIDS 8. Fillings that have become defective 9. Taking medications that cause dry mouth 10. Bridges that no longer fit properly 11. Female hormonal changes, such as with pregnancy or the use of oral c…
Reference
- Gingivitis can be controlled and treated with good oral hygiene and regular professional cleaning. More severe forms of periodontal disease can also be treated successfully but may require more extensive treatment. Such treatment might include deep cleaning of the tooth root surfaces below the gums, medications prescribed to take by mouth or placed...