The modern level of development of dentistry makes it possible to make dreams of a beautiful smile a reality. But you should understand that these are not only snow-white and even teeth, but also he althy gums. Nothing without this. Unfortunately, everyone experiences gum disease at least once in their life. But not everyone is ready to address the problem to a specialist. Many self-medicate or simply ignore the problem. And this is a fundamentally wrong approach, since at the initial stage, inflammation of the gums near the tooth can be eliminated without consequences. And in advanced cases, patients often lose teeth.
Causes of inflammation
In order to prevent inflammation of the gum tissue, it is necessary to understand the causes of this disease. These reasons include:
- Microbes. The oral mucosa cannot be sterile. There is always a certain number of microorganisms on it, the regulation of the number of which is carried out by the human immune system. These microbes are not dangerous until a person creates favorable factors for them.rapid reproduction.
- Inadequate hygiene. If you brush your teeth irregularly or with the wrong brush and paste, then plaque will remain. This is a breeding ground for the development of microbes.
- Tatar. Bacteria secrete substances that convert soft plaque into hard tartar. In turn, tartar injures and lowers the gum, opening deeper tissues for bacteria to grow.
- Unskilled dental care. This cause of gum disease, alas, is quite common. An improperly placed or fitted denture or filling puts pressure on the delicate gum tissue, causing it to become inflamed.
- Smoking. The teeth of experienced smokers, in principle, do not look very aesthetically pleasing. They often develop extra plaque that causes inflammation.
- Medical predisposition. Inflammation of the gums can occur as a result of beriberi, endocrine diseases, gastrointestinal problems, in violation of the immune system, for hereditary reasons.
Symptoms
In case of inflammation of the gums, it is advisable to start treatment as early as possible. If we consider the process in stages, then it looks like this:
- Redness and slight swelling occurs. To the touch, the inflamed area becomes softer than the surrounding tissues.
- As a result of the weakness and fragility of blood vessels when brushing teeth, slight bleeding appears.
- Bleeding intensifies. Blood is expelled even when running the tongue across the gum.
- Inflamed gum descends, risestooth sensitivity.
- Increased sensitivity turns into sharp pain. Teeth are sensitive to sour, sweet, hot and cold.
- Gum surfaces become uneven, tissues become loose. The normal contours of the gums are disturbed. Bad breath cannot be removed by brushing your teeth.
Timely access to a doctor will help to correctly classify the disease that caused the inflammatory process or eliminate the mechanical cause of inflammation. This will allow damaged tissue to repair faster.
International classification
The oral cavity and teeth are the beginning of the digestive system, therefore, in the International Classification (MBK-10), they are classified as diseases of the digestive system. Further division brings diseases of the oral cavity, salivary glands and jaw into a separate subgroup (K00-K14 in ICD-10), from which the section on "Gingivitis and periodontal diseases" is considered today. Let us clarify that these diseases differ in the severity of the inflammatory process and the depth of the affected soft tissues. The main diseases of this section are gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gingival mucosa that does not affect the periodontal attachments. By localization, gingivitis can be generalized, that is, with damage to the soft tissue around all teeth, and localized, which means inflammation of the gums near the tooth. In any case, the doctor prescribes treatment after examination and assessment of the situation.
There is an additionaldivision of gingivitis according to the nature of inflammation:
- the simplest is edematous form, that is, catarrhal gingivitis;
- more complex, fibrous form, i.e. hypertrophic gingivitis;
- the most severe form is ulcerative necrotizing gingivitis.
Classification of inflammation of the gums in this case was carried out according to the degree of damage in soft tissues from simple edema to their necrosis. If there are characteristic signs of the disease, you should visit the dentist.
If the patient did not think about how to relieve inflammation of the gums, did not consult a doctor and did not start treatment, then gingivitis can turn into a more complex disease - periodontitis.
Periodontitis
This disease affects the deeper tissues of the periodontium, infecting, among other things, the periodontal ligaments of the teeth and the bony margins of the sockets. In the process of destruction, the gum exfoliates from the tooth, forming a periodontal pocket. Remnants of food begin to accumulate in the cavities and infections develop. Plaque falls under the gum, gradually transforming into tartar. Gradually, due to the loss of support, tooth mobility appears, and bacteria under the gums become a source of chronic infection that releases toxins. The chronic process weakens the body and can go into an acute stage with the appearance of purulent discharge. In severe cases, tooth loss is possible.
Gingivitis Treatment Methods
When symptoms of gum disease are detected, treatment is prescribed in accordance with the type of disease. In most cases, after examination by a doctorremoves plaque and tartar. This is done with professional toothpastes, an ultrasonic instrument and air-abrasive tips. In cases where the cause of inflammation of the gums was a defect in prosthetics or demineralization, the doctor eliminates these problems, creating conditions for the restoration of the gums. If the inflammatory process is in the initial stage, then one visit to the doctor with the further implementation of the recommendations received is enough for recovery. For gum inflammation, rinsing with antimicrobial compounds after removing plaque and hard deposits will completely eliminate the problem.
More severe inflammation with ulceration will no longer be limited to removing plaque and rinsing. The patient will have to visit the dentist several times. At the first visit, dental plaque is removed with a hand tool and polishing pastes. In the second, the surfaces of the teeth are finally treated with ultrasonic instruments. Additionally, antimicrobial rinses, anti-inflammatory applications, appropriate pastes and physiotherapy are prescribed.
Rehabilitation of the oral cavity, treatment of caries and pulpitis, replacement of old fillings and bridges (single crowns), all this should be done to eliminate foci of chronic infections. In principle, this work should be considered as a stage in the treatment of gingivitis.
So that the question no longer arises of how to treat inflammation of the gums, the doctor teaches the patient how to properly clean the teeth and oral cavity, and also selects hygiene products (toothpaste, tooth elixir, and so on).
Whentreatment of the hypertrophic form of gingivitis, in addition to the above measures, the doctor should examine the list of drugs taken by the patient, and cancel or replace the one that could provoke the growth of gum tissue. If gingivitis persists some time after withdrawal, then surgical treatment may be recommended.
Methods of treatment of periodontitis
Treatment of periodontitis is more complex, lengthy and financially costly. It begins with an initial consultation, during which the depth of periodontal pockets, bleeding sites and plaque areas are documented in detail. The parameters are recorded in the periodontal map. Then, according to x-rays, the degree of resorption (resorption) of bone tissues is diagnosed. As a result, an individual treatment plan should be drawn up.
Mandatory stage - removing plaque, removing tartar and teaching proper hygiene skills. Next, anti-inflammatory therapy is prescribed: pastes, antiseptic solutions, if necessary, antibiotics. In parallel, caries, pulpitis, periodontitis are necessarily treated. They also remove teeth that cannot be restored, change fillings and installed dental structures.
Don't be afraid to prescribe antibiotics. With inflammation of the gums, which has turned into periodontitis, this may be a necessary stage of treatment. The doctor will select the optimal form of administration (tablets or injections). In particularly difficult cases, the injection is made directly into the affected area of the gums. In the case of antibiotics, you should never self-medicate andarbitrarily prescribe a medicine or replace it with another (an exception is only allowed for drugs from different manufacturers with the same active ingredient). For reference, we denote that most often in the treatment of periodontitis, an antibiotic of the glycosamide group and the fluoroquinol group is used. In the first case, it is "Clindamycin" or "Lincomycin". In the second - Nomitsin, Tavirid or Sifloks.
After completing the first stage of treatment, a new full examination is carried out, the data of which are recorded in the periodontal map. The results obtained are also evaluated. When evaluating the results, the doctor takes into account how scrupulously the patient follows the recommendations for oral hygiene, and the degree of his motivation. If the patient is not ready to fully cooperate, then it is impossible to get a favorable result.
If the dynamics is recognized as positive, the oral cavity is sanitized, and the patient conscientiously follows the recommendations, then the dentist proceeds to the next step of the treatment program. Now you can (if necessary) surgically remove the remaining pockets of the gums, and install splints on loose teeth to reduce the chewing load. In the same period, prosthetics of missing teeth are performed.
Further on the treatment program is usually carried out maintenance therapy. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammation of the gums, so the disease can recur.
Prevention of inflammatory processes
Prevention of inflammation of the gums is a set of measures consisting of the following items:
- Correct selection of toothbrush and paste. Regular and thorough brushing and gum care.
- Dental check-ups every six months. At the first sign of inflammation - an unscheduled visit to the doctor.
- Attentive attitude to he alth. Timely treatment for systemic diseases.
- The presence of plant foods in the diet. Eating raw fruits and vegetables.
- Quit smoking.
- Using antiseptic mouthwashes.
What can be used at home
Is it possible to remove the problem by rinsing, and how to rinse the gums during inflammation? Or maybe there are some other means to help yourself? Yes, there are such means and methods. But the treatment of inflammation of the gums at home is possible only when the process is quite insignificant. A little discomfort can be eliminated by yourself. For this, both medicines and folk remedies are used.
Pharmacy stores sell anti-inflammatory gels and spray bottles, special toothpastes and mouthwashes, ready-made rinses. From ready-made solutions, you can use "Furacilin", "Malavit", "Chlorophyllipt", "Rotokan" and other means. In addition, the buyer in the pharmacy can be offered gels and balms, such as Cholisal, Asepta, Stomatofit, Metrogil Denta, and so on. However, you should always remember that self-treatment may not work, and the inflammatory process will go into a more difficult stage.
Are folk remedies effective
At home, many people use herbal decoctions and infusions to treat gum disease. Preference is given to natural antiseptics, such as chamomile, sage, oak bark, calendula, eucalyptus, St. John's wort, and so on. It will not be possible to completely cure inflammation with herbal decoctions, but they will perfectly complement the medical treatment prescribed by a specialist. Going to the dentist is the only right way for gum inflammation, understand this, and do not waste time. Do not start the disease so that it does not go into a more difficult stage.
What affects the cost of treatment
Of course, the initial stages of gingivitis are cheaper to treat than the advanced form of the same disease. Well, periodontitis is even more difficult and expensive to cure. For example, ultrasonic cleaning of stones will cost several hundred, and the use of the Vector device will cost several thousand rubles. For the opening of a periodontal abscess, the doctor will take several hundred rubles, and for a patchwork operation on several teeth - several thousand rubles. So why overspend when you can get help right away?
It is better to seek help from a dentist in a timely manner, then it will be possible to avoid negative consequences that may arise as complications of the inflammatory process.
