Periodontitis is a severe gum infection that is caused by bacteria in the mouth allowed to accumulate on the teeth and gums. It has different stages which if allowed to progress, can damage the bones and teeth. However, there are many treatments of periodontitis which can stop the damage if diagnosed and treated early.
Before discussing the treatments of periodontitis, let’s discuss the different stages, which requires your undivided attention.
1. Inflammation
The periodontal disease begins with inflammation in the gums known as gingivitis. One of the signs of this is bleeding while flossing or brushing the teeth. It may also lead to discoloration on your teeth which is the sign of plaque on the teeth. This is the sign of bacteria in your mouth which can harm your teeth resulting in decay.
2. Early periodontal disease
In this stage of periodontitis, the gums leave the teeth and create a small pocket. This is the living place of harmful bacteria. Your immune system will try to fight the infection and your gums will start to pull off. You can experience some bleeding while brushing.
3. Moderate periodontal disease
If not treated and left to progress, you’re likely to experience bleeding and pain around your gums and teeth. Your teeth will begin to lose the bone, and the infection can lead to an inflammatory response throughout your body.
4. Advanced periodontal disease
In its advanced stage, the connective tissue holding your teeth in place begins to weaken. The gums, bones and other tissues in the mouth are destroyed. You may experience severe pain while chewing; you’d have constant bad breath and a bad taste in the mouth. This is the stage when you can lose your teeth.
These are the four stages of periodontitis that needs to be treated with care. Here are some ways you can reverse the effect of periodontitis.
· Oral hygiene practice
Visit a dentist to get rid of the disease. Your dentist will instruct you to maintain oral hygiene. They may advise you to use a proper toothbrush and dental floss daily and may recommend some products which can help you in maintaining oral health.
· professional cleaning
in case of a moderate or advanced periodontal stage, it is advisable to visit an urgent dental care Tulsa, Vancouver, London and more for a professional dental cleaning. Your dentist will remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and the roots and then polish them with fluoride.
· Antibiotics
In some cases, your dentist can also prescribe you antibiotics to help cope with the gum infection that hasn’t responded to cleaning. These may be in the form of mouthwash, gel or tablet.
· Follow-up appointments
After all the procedures, your dentist might require you to visit the facility after a few weeks to check on the condition of the infection. If the periodontal pockets are still present, they may recommend any other treatments like dental surgery.
· Surgery
If the inflammation continues in the sides where a brush cannot reach your dentist may recommend a surgical procedure known as a “clean deposits under the gums” to clean the infection from the roots of the gums.