Brush, brush, brush. Do it at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
Although brushing and flossing are equally important, brushing eliminates only the plaque from the surfaces of the teeth that the brush can reach. Flossing, on the other hand, removes plaque from in between the teeth and under the gumline. Both should be used as part of a regular at-home, self-care treatment plan. Some dentists also recommend specialized toothbrushes, such as those that are motorized and have smaller heads, which may be a more effective method of removing plaque than a standard toothbrush.
Treatment for periodontal disease may even help lower other health risks. For example, research has found that treating gum disease helped people with diabetes and prediabetes. It lowered their blood sugar levels and reduced their need for insulin. Another study in 2007 showed that intensive treatment for gum disease helped to reverse atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risks in some cases. Still, despite the best efforts, some patients with periodontal disease do not respond to treatment at all.
Ensuring your gum health starts with you. Practicing common sense habits like brushing your teeth at least twice a day and adding in flossing as well are the best things you can do. Taking care of your overall health has more bearing on the health of the teeth and gums than most people realize. In other words, eat well, drink enough fluids, and exercise to keep your immune system in the best possible shape.
Periodontal therapy is done by a dentist and a dental hygienist. You will be scheduled for one or more intensive teeth cleanings called deep scaling. The hygienist will scrape all of the built up plaque and tartar that has accumulated down below the gum line. You have to get rid of the plaque so that your gums can get healthy again. The only way is scraping it off. Sometimes there is a lot of bone loss and periodontal surgery will need to be done to tighten up the gums around the roots or the tooth with sutures.
If gum disease has progressed to periodontitis, you may need more extensive scaling to remove plaque and tartar from the pockets that have formed. This can take several appointments with the dentist or hygienist. You may need to have your gums numbed with an injection of local anaesthetic before the scaling, and you may feel a little discomfort afterwards. Your dentist or hygienist will monitor the size of the pockets during the following months to make sure the treatment has been successful and the periodontal disease is not getting any worse.
AAP treatment guidelines stress that periodontal health should be achieved in the least invasive and most cost-effective manner. This is often accomplished through non-surgical periodontal treatment, including scaling and root planing (a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus [tartar] from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins), followed by adjunctive therapy such as local delivery antimicrobials and host modulation, as needed on a case-by-case basis.
Osseous (bone) surgery sometimes accompanies flap surgery. In osseous surgery, some of the bone around the tooth is reshaped. In certain cases, a bone area may be employed to replace lost bone. Splints or other appliances may be used to stabilize loose teeth temporarily and may be necessary after completion of periodontal therapy as well.
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As we go through life, sooner or later we will experience some sort of health problem, whether it be through heredity or other factors. Some diseases will burst forth without warning, others can go on progressively without our knowledge. Gum disease is one that fits in both categories. It starts out silent and before we know it, we have a mouthful of problems. Over 70 per cent of the population has gum disease issues. For the most part, gum disease is usually considered a localized disease. Not to worry, a trip to the dentist will fix everything. This is not always the case.
The common symptoms of gum disease are that a person suffers from red, swollen gums, teeth become loose and the space between the teeth also widens. The person also suffers from chronic bad breath, receding gums and bleeding while brushing or flossing.
Gum disease can be a potential wrecker, not only to your aesthetic worth but also to your lifestyle. Although many might think it's a small thing, imagine having to go through the entire day with a nagging gum defect that can be painful and distracting at the same time.
Gingivitis or gum disease is caused by bacteria in your mouth. You can’t get rid of those germs forever; they’re just a fact of life as a human being. These bacteria feed upon the same things we do, literally the things we eat and drink. They hide in all the little nooks and crannies inside your mouth, even below the gum line. When you brush, you clean out some of those germs, but you can’t reach all of them.
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gum tissue due to a build of plaque or tartar around the gumline and if treated can be reversed. If left untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontitis which is far more serious and is irreversible but can be stopped from progressing any further. If you think you may have gingivitis it is important you go to your dentist.
An abscess is a collection of pus. Pus is a thick fluid that usually contains white blood cells, dead tissue and bacteria (germs). The usual cause of an abscess is an infection with bacteria. A dental abscess is an infection in the centre of a tooth which spreads through the tooth to infect supporting bone and other nearby tissues. Dental abscess is common. It may develop as a complication of tooth decay (caries), or from an infection in the gums.
Quite often Price referred to the high number of "rheumatic group lesions" which resulted from dental infections. That terminology produced some confusion as it placed extreme emphasis on rheumatism and arthritis.
