Periodontitis is a gum disease, it is an infection that inflames the bones and ligaments that support the teeth, slowly destroying these tissues. Although periodontitis follows gingivitis , which affects a large part of the population, it does not mean that this disease always develops. Likewise, the progression of periodontitis is not similar in all cases, although it often progresses slowly and the damage is visible up to several years later.
Generally, if you go to the specialist and it is seen on time, there are no complications, only 10-15% of patients with periodontitis have presented a serious condition in which their dentition is seriously compromised. In periodontitis, unlike gingivitis, the destruction of the tissue that supports the teeth is not reversible. Therefore, it is important that you know how to detect and treat this condition and in this FastlyHealarticle we will explain the symptoms, causes and treatment of periodontitis .
Table of Contents
Symptoms of periodontitis
Some of the symptoms of periodontitis are similar to those of gingivitis, the gum disease that precedes it. Between them we have:
- Have red or swollen gums .
- Bad breath all the time.
- Sensitive gums, for example, that bleed when brushing your teeth.
- Pain is felt when chewing .
- The gums are contracted, which makes the teeth appear longer than normal.
- Having loose and sensitive teeth.
Causes of periodontitis
The mouth is always full of bacteria, they together with other particles form a substance that, if not cleaned daily, turns into tartar. Periodontitis is the result of not performing professional treatment when you have gingivitis, that is, inflammation and infection of the gums but in a lesser way than what happens in periodontitis.
What happens is that this infection and inflammation increases until it reaches the bones that support the teeth, causing them to loosen and end up falling out. There are different risk factors that can increase the chances of having periodontitis, such as:
- Smoke
- Being diabetic
- Having other diseases such as cancer or AIDS.
This pathology is the main cause in adults that their teeth fall out, for this reason it is essential to visit a specialist constantly, to avoid the appearance of gum diseases and, otherwise, that it can be treated in time in the most correct way.
Treatment for periodontitis
Treatment can vary for mild, moderate, or severe periodontitis, but the main goal is to decrease inflammation. The dentist will perform some or all of the following steps for the treatment of periodontitis :
- Periodontal study : to know the severity of the pathology, the dentist will carry out studies with photographs, digital x-rays, gum measurements, among others. If the periodontitis is mild or moderate, the treatment is limited to a good professional cleaning.
- Prophylaxis : the professional performs a deep oral cleaning to regain the correct health of the gums.
- Scaling and root planing : the dentist scrapes the teeth manually with the use of ultrasound instruments. Root planing is the scraping of the roots of the teeth and must be done under anesthesia, but does not require stitches.
- Oral hygiene : the professional will provide the necessary guidelines for a good cleaning of the mouth at home.In case of acute periodontitis, the treatment must be surgical, either to repair the bone and prevent the teeth from moving or falling out, or to cover the part that the gums do not cover when they are very contracted.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Periodontitis: symptoms, causes and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Teeth and mout.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.