Periodontal Disease And Its Treatment
Periodontal disease, which is another name for gum disease, affects a large number of people all over the world. Here is a bit of information about periodontal disease and its treatment.
What causes periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is caused by gum inflammation that is usually caused by plaque and bacteria in the mouth. The gums and other soft tissues of the mouth are sensitive to acids produced by the oral bacteria. The acid is released by the bacteria as they digest their food—the carbohydrates left in your mouth after a meal or snack.
Plaque, which includes oral bacteria and food particles, coats the teeth and gums, so the acid is released so close to the gums that it is still in a concentrated state. Saliva has not had an opportunity to thoroughly dilute it. As a result, the acid is highly corrosive and inflammatory.
What are the signs of periodontal disease?
As periodontal disease presents, the gums become swollen and red. In addition, they may bleed more easily when you brush, floss, or eat. Symptoms worsen as the condition progresses. Over time, pockets develop in the gums at the gum line. The pocket depth increases with the severity of the periodontal disease. Eventually, the gum infection can affect the bones and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place.
To check for signs of the disease, the dentist will perform a visual inspection. However, he or she may also take x-rays of your mouth to determine whether or not the jawbone has been affected by the gum disease.
How is periodontal disease treated?
One of the most significant treatments is good oral hygiene. In fact, proper brushing and flossing, along with antibacterial mouth rinses, are often enough to reverse the earliest forms of gum disease. However, more serious forms may require professional intervention.
Deep scaling and root planing may be needed to treat serious forms of gum disease. Deep scaling is the scraping of the teeth to remove tartar and plaque at and below the gum line. Root planing is the smoothing of the roots.
Dental roots can become roughened by tartar accumulations. The planing smooths the root surface so there are fewer places for bacteria to reside.
Both the deep scaling and root planing are usually performed during the same treatment session.
To learn more about periodontal disease and effective courses of treatment, schedule an appointment with a dentist from a clinic like HP Family Dental.