Periodontitis is one of those oral problems that most people don’t give importance to until they become really annoying. For this reason, you should pay attention to the state of your gums and be cautious about the appearance of certain symptoms. In this post, we will explain the different stages of periodontal disease and its symptoms and treatment.
This level of incidence, together with the severity of the disease, makes periodontitis one of the most commonly treated conditions by dental professionals.
What is periodontitis?
Periodontitis or periodontal disease, also known as pyorrhoea, is a pathology of the gums characterized by inflammation, bleeding, and the progressive destruction of the soft tissue surrounding the tooth, the ligament that joins the tooth to the jawbone, and finally, the bone in which the dental organ is housed.
Periodontitis is considered a risk factor for diseases such as diabetes, cancer, myocardial or cerebral infarction, and premature birth in pregnant women. Multiple research studies worldwide indicate that taking care of the gums has a positive effect in helping to maintain good general health.
Causes of periodontitis
The main causes of periodontitis are oral bacteria. Preventing this infectious disease is easy if you follow a good dental hygiene routine. A professional dental cleaning regularly helps to prevent the presence of oral bacteria on your teeth.
Keep in mind that if plaque is not successfully removed, it will turn into tartar. The only way to remove tartar from your teeth and gums is by oral prophylaxis technique.
Some people suffer from the disease as a result of genetics. Also, the existence of other pathologies such as diabetes or cardiovascular pathologies can contribute to the development of periodontitis.
On the other hand, external agents, such as stress or smoking, aggravate the disease as they act as accelerators of the infectious process.
Symptoms of periodontitis
The symptoms of periodontitis vary depending on the stage of the disease. When the bacteria have not reached deep areas at an early stage, the pathology is completely reversible. It is therefore important to visit the dentist regularly.
A very important thing about these diseases is that their symptoms are clear and easily detectable:
Symptoms of periodontal disease – early stages (gingivitis)
The symptoms can be very subtle in the early stages of periodontal disease. They are often silent, especially in patients who smoke, where the effects of tobacco on the local vasculature cause the disease to start unnoticed.
In the initial phase, the symptoms of periodontitis are usually few and can be reversed if diagnosed and treated early, hence the importance of regular dental visits.
Swollen and discolored gums. When inflamed, gums may appear reddish in color.
A very clear symptom is the appearance of bleeding in the gums, mainly at the time of brushing, when the patient discovers the presence of blood in their saliva when rinsing.
Halitosis or bad breath is caused by bacteria present in the mouth.
Dental sensitivity. At certain times, dental sensitivity may appear (discomfort when eating cold, hot, sweet, or acidic foods).
Symptoms of periodontal disease (moderate and advanced stage)
Once periodontitis has started, the dentist observes the most important sign when probing the patient’s gum with an instrument calibrated in millimeters that measures the depth of the gum sulcus over the tooth. This is known as probing depth measurement or periodontal probing.
Healthy gingiva measures approximately 3 millimeters. If the probing gives a higher measurement, it is a sign that the gum is either inflamed or that the gingival attachment has shifted vertically as a result of bone loss. This stage, which characterizes the transition from gingivitis to periodontitis, is confirmed by X-rays, which confirm whether or not bone destruction has occurred. The main symptoms are
Uncovered tooth root. In the moderate and advanced stages, the teeth are usually seen with greater exposure of the clinical crown, caused by peripheral loss of tissue. Increased tooth exposure is often accompanied by increased tooth sensitivity.
Mobility and change in tooth position. As teeth lose their attachment, they become mobile and can change their position within the mouth.
Occasional chewing discomfort: especially if there is interdental packing of food in the triangular spaces between the teeth after the loss of gingival tissue in these areas.
Phlegmons or infections of gum origin that may even fester spontaneously.
Impress recommendations for periodontitis
Treatment of periodontitis should be carried out by a professional; home care will not be sufficient and will depend on the stage of the disease. We recommend you to ask Impress if you have any doubt about this problem. They do not perform the periodontal treatment. However, they will help you to discern whether you are ready for orthodontics or not, depending on the state of your gums. They will recommend you to visit a periodontist if they believe it may affect future orthodontic treatment.
If it is early, a thorough cleaning, including scaling and removal of the periodontal pockets, will probably be sufficient, but you can also carry out curettage treatment. Antibiotics may be needed to treat the infection, and the dentist will advise whether a chlorhexidine mouthwash or interdental brushing at home is necessary for maintenance. Probiotics are also often recommended to help the creation of new biofilm.
It is important to obtain a detailed periodontal analysis to detect the factors that cause or aggravate periodontitis in each person better to prevent the onset or progression of the disease. Sometimes it can even be very useful to include a microbiological analysis. In any case, periodontal diseases are considered chronic. They have a clear tendency to reappear if there is no continuous control of the risk factors, so it is very important to follow the prevention guidelines a trusted professional gives.
