Inflammation of the gums – it seemed to be nothing to worry about. Well, the gums are swollen, sometimes they bleed. Except that bad breath makes life difficult… Alas, many people think so. And faced with irreversible consequences – loss of teeth – they are surprised: is it really the beginning of the beginnings that seemed so harmless inflammation of the gums ?! In order not to be excruciatingly painful – both literally and figuratively – Inflammation of the gums should be treated when the first symptoms appear. How to recognize the disease and successfully get rid of it, read on estet-portal.com.
Degrees of gingivitis
Dentists distinguish between the following degrees of gum disease:
- gingivitis (catarrhal, hypertrophic, ulcerative necrotic)
- periodontitis
- periodontal disease
If you notice blood on your toothbrush – this is the initial stage of gum inflammation – gingivitis, when the integrity of the dentogingival connection is not broken, that is, the teeth are not yet loose. With periodontitis, the tissues surrounding the tooth become inflamed, and with periodontal disease – last stage of gum disease – these tissues are already affected and are no longer able to hold the dentition.
Causes and symptoms of gum disease
Main causes of gum disease:
- Insufficient or inadequate oral hygiene resulting in microbial plaque and tartar deposits on the teeth. Pathogenic microorganisms in them secrete toxins that cause inflammation & nbsp; gums;
- weak load on the chewing apparatus (you can’t help but remember your mother’s admonitions in childhood: “Gnaw more carrots!”);
- weakened immune system, beriberi, chronic internal diseases (diabetes mellitus, endocrine disorders, leukemia);
- hereditary factor;
- taking certain medications (antidepressants, birth control, blood pressure lowering drugs, vasoconstrictors, antihistamines, certain cardiovascular drugs).
The risk group also includes chickens, pregnant women (doctors call this pregnancy gingivitis), as well as patients of orthodontists and unscrupulous dentists – improper treatment, poor-quality (for example, hanging over the mucous membrane and traumatizing it) filling or crown, plus poor oral care, can cause an intensive development of pathogenic microorganisms.
Gingivitis is more common in men than in women. People from groups with an unfavorable socio-economic situation, as well as those suffering from mental disorders are especially susceptible to it.
How to recognize gum disease at the very beginning? In addition to the already mentioned bleeding, swollen gums and halitosis, the following symptoms should alert you with gingivitis: redness or blueness, swelling and sometimes itching of the gums.
With periodontitis, the already listed symptoms are accompanied by pronounced inflammation of the gums (sometimes with purulent discharge), pain, tooth mobility, and the dentist can detect periodontal pockets – cavity between the tooth and its surrounding tissues. Remains of food that get there while eating (with insufficient oral hygiene) decompose, as a result of which the gums swell, itch and hurt.
If your teeth react to cold / hot, their necks, and sometimes their roots are bare, there are significant deposits of tartar, while the mucous membranes are light (without the redness inherent in the previous two stages), then these are already symptoms of periodontal disease.
Treatment of gum disease
At any stage of gum inflammation, it is important to have a complete, regular and proper oral care with a soft toothbrush (Soft label), dental floss (floss) and special toothpastes containing plant extracts, aluminum lactate, chlorhexidine. These substances help reduce gum bleeding.
Treatment for gingivitis. Since only the marginal part of the gum suffers at the initial degree of inflammation, you can limit yourself to home treatment if it is catarrhal gingivitis. But before that, it is important to remove the tartar from the dentist. It is better to give preference to ultrasonic cleaning, after which the doctor will polish the surface of the teeth with a special brush and paste, and treat the inflamed areas with a gel. Home therapy includes:
- rinsing the mouth with antiseptics;
- application of therapeutic gels;
- teeth cleaning with special toothpastes.
It takes 10 days to treat catarrhal gingivitis at home. The oral cavity is processed in the morning and in the evening before going to bed. After brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth for 1 minute with an antiseptic (for example, a solution of 0.05% Chlorhexidine), then blot your gums with a piece of bandage and apply gel to them from the outside and inside. After this procedure, refrain for 30 minutes. from drinking and 2-3 hours from eating.
From folk remedies, as an additional anti-inflammatory therapy, decoctions of chamomile flowers, St. John's wort, eucalyptus, oak bark can be used to rinse the mouth.
Hypertrophic and necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis can only be treated by a dentist. Together with tartar, the doctor removes necrotic plaque, prescribes antibiotics, as well as antiseptic rinses and applications.Treatment for periodontitis. There is no way to do without a specialist, because in addition to everything that is used in the treatment of gingivitis, more effective methods may be needed. This is washing of periodontal pockets, physiotherapy & nbsp; (eg, laser, electrophoresis), antibiotic therapy (tablets or intramuscular injections – the latter is preferred), splinting of mobile teeth, and even surgery – it all depends on how much the bone tissue around the tooth has suffered. Surgical treatment of periodontitis consists in the removal of inflammatory granulation tissue (it is formed at the site of resorbed bone) and the introduction of synthetic bone tissue.
In the treatment of gum disease, even surgery may be necessary – it all depends on how much the bone tissue around the tooth has suffered.Treatment for periodontitis. First of all, it is indispensable for any kind of gum disease removal of tartar and deep cleaning of periodontal pockets, for example, with the help of a curette. An obligatory component of treatment is the placement of therapeutic ointments in periodontal pockets and the introduction of bone-forming materials in order to prevent further destruction of bone tissue. Also, the doctor may prescribe physiotherapy (vacuum, hydromassage of the gums, ultrasonic scaler). In parallel, therapy is carried out to strengthen the immune system and treat internal diseases.
Separately, it is worth mentioning those cases when inflammation of the gums arose due to poor-quality filling or prosthetics. In this case, there is only one way out: if it is not possible, for example, to file the overhanging and traumatic edge of the filling, then it is necessary to treat the tooth, put a filling or crown in accordance with all the rules.
Prevention of gum inflammation
Because the disease is always easier to prevent than to cure, it is important to remember the prevention of gum disease. Prevention methods are banal, but extremely effective:
- cleaning. Known to us since childhood "brush your teeth at least twice a day"; - not an empty sound. This rule must be strictly adhered to. Moreover, it is important
- to brush your teeth correctly: for the lower jaw, "raking" movements from the bottom up, for the top – from top to bottom, as well as in circular motions. The right-left movements familiar to us are permissible on horizontal surfaces of the teeth. On the recommendation of a dentist, you can use electric or ultrasonic toothbrushes. But remember: at least once every 3 months you need to change your toothbrush (head – in the version of the electric brush). Make it a habit to use dental floss and brushes (brushes) to clean the spaces between your teeth. Brushes come in different sizes (X, XS, M…), rinse
- . Always rinse your mouth and throat with clean water after eating (even a small snack) and drinking (tea, sugary drinks, wine…). use of good quality toothpaste and rinses.
- regular (once every six months) preventive visits to the dentist, as well as professional cleaning of plaque and tartar.
- And then you will be able to boast of the notorious fresh breath and white-toothed smile.
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