Most of the gum-related problems, if not treated timely, can permanently damage your teeth. In most cases, the gums are affected by a gum disease known as periodontitis. Periodontitis is highly prevalent in individuals over 30, and more than 40% of Americans over 30 have periodontitis, and many of them are from Virginia.
On the brighter side, periodontitis is completely curable if treated timely. A good dentist in Springfield, VA, can help you get rid of the problems caused by periodontitis with proper treatment and aftercare tips.
Signs and symptoms of periodontal disease
Periodontitis is a gum disease, which is usually the result of a chronic bacterial infection. Periodontitis can damage the tissues around your teeth and can even reach deep to affect the jaw bones that support your teeth. Periodontitis is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
Following are the common signs and symptoms of periodontal disease.
- Puffy and swollen gums may appear bright to dark red or dark purple in some cases.
- Gums will feel tender to touch and bleed very easily.
- Toothbrush bristles appear pink after brushing teeth
- Spitting blood while brushing and flossing the teeth
- Persistent bad breath that won’t go away no matter what
- Some bad cases may cause pus between the teeth and gums
- Loose, decayed, or knocked-out teeth.
- Feeling pain while chewing
- Gums pulling away from teeth, giving your teeth a loner appearance
- Change in the way teeth fit together when you close your mouth or bite
Stages of Periodontitis
Periodontitis progresses gradually over four stages, which are as follows.
- Stage-I: The first stage of periodontitis is called gingivitis, it’s the earliest stage that starts with puffy swollen gums that may appear red and bleed while brushing or flossing. However, this stage doesn’t cause bone loss and is completely reversible if treated properly.
- Stage II: The second stage, also known as mild periodontitis, is when the bacteria start seeping underneath your gums and begin to impact the supporting bones. It’ll cause your gums to pull away from the teeth and create pockets around them. The pockets will soon act as a home for plaque and bacteria.
- Stage III: The third stage is known as moderate periodontitis, which can lead to damage to the periodontal ligaments that attach your teeth to the alveolar bone sockets. If left untreated, moderate periodontitis can give you bad breath and pus around the gum line. Some people may experience pain, too.
- Stage IV: The final stage of periodontitis is advanced periodontitis, which is when the tissues around your teeth and supporting bone structures are severely damaged. Eventually, your teeth will become loose and begin to fall.
Common treatments for periodontitis
Depending on the condition of your gums and teeth, the dentist may opt for a non-surgical or surgical treatment.
Non-surgical treatments
Non-surgical treatments of periodontitis involve scaling, root planing, and antibiotic treatment. Scaling is the procedure of removing tartar from your tooth surface and below your gum line to eliminate the bacteria. Root planing involves smoothening the root surface to prevent further accumulation of tartar and bacteria.
Along with both these procedures, your dentist may prescribe you topical mouth rinses and antibiotics to control and eliminate the infection.
Surgical treatments
In severe periodontitis cases, dentists may opt for surgical treatments like pocket reduction surgery, soft tissue grafting, and bone grafting. The pocket reduction procedure involves making incisions in the gums to fold them back into place to eliminate spaces between teeth and gums that accumulate tartar and bacteria.
Soft tissue grafting procedures restore the gum tissues lost due to infections by taking a small amount of tissue from the roof of your mouth and attaching it to the affected area. When a similar process is carried out to restore the bones around teeth, it’s called bone grafting. The bone grafts may be small fragments of your own bone or artificial material.
Final takeaway
Periodontal treatments can eliminate the bacteria that cause infection and significantly improve your oral health. As a result, you enjoy clean and healthy-looking gums and teeth with reduced risk of other serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, and much more. However, you must consult a professional periodontist for an effective treatment.
