Good gum he alth is just as important as dental he alth. This is especially acute when there is tooth mobility. So, you need to know what periodontal disease is: symptoms and treatment of this disease, its consequences, severity and methods of prevention.
Essence
The periodontium is the tissue that surrounds the tooth and holds it in place. It consists of several layers, one of which is the alveolar processes - parts of the jawbone. Periodontal disease is a systemic lesion of the periodontal tissue complex. It is not isolated, it is always a generalized disease that affects the entire oral cavity at once. And although it does not occur very often, the main danger is that it proceeds almost imperceptibly, so that treatment begins very late. In addition, pathogens can begin to develop in the voids resulting from tissue atrophy, making life even more difficult for patients.
Confusion
There is another disease similar in name, which is much more common. This is periodontitis, and it affects up to 95% of the adult population. As a rule, he is much more aggressive anddangerous than dental periodontitis, which occurs only in about 2-8% of people and can be asymptomatic for quite a long time. However, it is treated much faster and easier.
Both diseases have a number of serious differences, so in order to avoid further confusion, this article will focus on periodontal disease as a systemic disease. By the way, often even doctors mistakenly make this diagnosis instead of treating periodontitis. In fact, the latter disease is more common in older people.
But there is another view, according to which all diseases affecting the periodontal tissues are classified as periodontitis. In this case, they can be considered as acute and chronic, as well as inflammatory and non-inflammatory. But in any case, periodontal disease should not be treated at home. And now it will become clear why.
Reasons
It is not entirely clear why periodontal disease occurs. Among the risk factors are such as heredity, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, atherosclerosis. Sometimes they talk about its connection with diabetes, malfunctions of the thyroid gland and cardiovascular diseases. But it is known for certain that oral hygiene has little to no effect on the likelihood of periodontal disease or not.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
The main difficulty is to identify the problem at the very beginning. The fact is that during the course of this disease, most often a person simply does not see the need to seek medical help,because he does not know that he has periodontal disease. The symptoms and treatments so widely reported in the media, such as bleeding gums and loose teeth, as well as the recommended special toothpastes and astringent mouth rinses, are exactly the same as periodontitis, a simple inflammation that heals in a couple of weeks.
And while there is a slow atrophy of the tissues surrounding the tooth, nothing bothers the patient at all. Sensitivity to irritants may increase, but otherwise everything will be as always. No blood, loosening, pockets, swelling and pain - all of these appear later, and in the early stages, the absence of these signs seriously complicates the diagnosis, as there are no complaints.
However, scheduled trips to the dentist every six months can reduce the likelihood that the disease will remain untreated until the most severe stages. And then there will be a huge number of complaints, because for young people the inability to eat solid food without fear of leaving a tooth in an apple is psychologically very unpleasant.
Firstly, the dentist can see enamel defects characteristic of periodontal disease, which are very common. This will already allow you to suspect something was wrong, especially in combination with the exposure of the necks of the teeth.
And secondly, an ordinary x-ray can serve as an additional diagnostic method - it will clearly show sclerotic changes in the bone. So this is another reason to visit a doctor regularly, even if there are no complaints. Indeed, in the early stages it is much easier to achievestable remission when it comes to periodontal disease of the teeth.
Degrees of severity
The stages of periodontal disease are determined by a number of signs, including neck and root exposure, reduction of the interdental septum, and tooth mobility. There are usually three degrees of severity.
The mildest is characterized by a slight exposure of the necks of the teeth and a decrease in the interdental septum - no more than 30%. Mobility is not observed. Sometimes patients complain of a slight burning sensation or itching in the gum area. Some may notice that bits of food get stuck between their teeth much more often than before.
Speaking of moderate severity, they already mention the figure of 50%. Also, the teeth may be slightly loose. Around the same time, periodontal circulatory disorders become noticeable - the gums become more "pale".
All conditions that exceed the previous indicators are classified as a severe stage. By the way, sometimes with this severity, bleeding, the appearance of gaps between the teeth and shallow gum pockets can be observed. Sometimes there are even purulent ulcers that cause serious discomfort. As a rule, this is already concomitant periodontitis with all its problems.
Because periodontal disease is a systemic disease, it is much more serious than local inflammation, which means it can result in much more unpleasant problems than hypersensitivity and root exposure. And even if it seems that such minor symptoms are not worth worrying about, there is no need to be deceived - noa remedy for periodontal disease will not be effective enough if treated at a very late stage. Fortunately, the development of the disease can last for years and decades, so there is a chance that treatment will still begin during this time. So do not start periodontal disease.
Folk remedies
Unfortunately, conventional treatments that can be used at home are practically ineffective in this case. Any remedy for periodontal disease, as a rule, is still from periodontitis. All these methods are capable of is to reduce inflammation. However, sometimes this is a challenge for those who still suffer from a systemic disease. So periodontal paste can help relieve tooth sensitivity and gum discomfort. True, these medicines should still be selected by a qualified physician who really knows how to treat periodontal disease. Folk remedies for bone tissue atrophy, unfortunately, are powerless. So do not take risks and experiment. Even periodontitis, which is characterized by the most unpleasant symptoms, but, in general, is not serious, if de alt with, should be cured under the supervision of a doctor. What can we say about a systemic disease.
Treatment methods
Of course, not everyone immediately goes to the doctors after learning about periodontal disease. It is impossible to treat this disease at home, so sooner or later, feeling that the problem is serious, most patients still end up in the dental office.
It is useless to say that in the early stages everythingit is much easier to treat, and sometimes even complete recovery is possible. As a rule, the dentist sees the already sad result of independent attempts to get rid of the disease or their absence. At this time, you can only try to stop the progression of the destruction of the jawbone and the accompanying symptoms, as well as at least partially restore the blood circulation of the tissues.
As a rule, treatment tactics at this stage include antibiotic therapy, that is, antibiotics, cleaning of tartar, the use of a laser, darsonval, gingival shower and other measures to maintain oral hygiene. They say a lot of good things about the Vector device, which affects the problem with ultrasound.
However, this is not enough. Along with the constant monitoring of the dentist, consultations are held with an immunologist, therapist, endocrinologist and other specialists. They may prescribe treatment for other diseases that exacerbate or cause periodontal disease. This may include taking hormonal drugs, steroids, vitamins, and other medications. It is necessary to bring the rest of the body systems in order.
It is worth remembering that the treatment of periodontal disease without monitoring concomitant diseases is ineffective. Yes, and sticking to any one approach may not always be reasonable, so you should take measures against the multiplication of microorganisms and inflammation, restoring normal blood flow and slowing down the resorption of bone tissue. By influencing the problem from different angles, in most cases it is possible to achieve a stableremission, although patients have to maintain this condition and regularly carry out preventive measures until the end of their lives. However, he alth and beauty are worth it.
Consequences
It's hard to smile with periodontal disease. Photos with a big smile, meeting new people, romantic relationships - a huge number of things and actions become a real torment. But it's not just a cosmetic defect and a decrease in the quality of life - in the end, modern dentistry solves any problems of an aesthetic plan with ease.
The most obvious consequence of periodontal disease is tooth loss. And since this disease is of a general nature, the entire jaw will suffer. So you can remain completely without teeth even up to 30 years. For some, this can be just a disaster. Prosthetics for periodontal disease, as a rule, is offered long before it becomes truly relevant. So do not put off going to the dentist because of the fear of pain. However, there are other consequences that seem even more serious.
The link with oral diseases is not direct in this case, but home treatment of periodontal disease or its absence can significantly increase the risk of a number of ailments.
Firstly, these are cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke. It has been scientifically proven that microorganisms that provoke inflammation in the later stages of periodontal disease often enter the bloodstream and can settle in large central arteries, startingbreed there. Of course, even in itself this is not very good, but if this happens for years, the lumen of the vessels narrows, which leads to heart attacks and other disastrous results.
Secondly, this is diabetes. As already mentioned, this disease is a risk factor in relation to periodontal disease. But this relationship also works in the opposite direction. As you know, any inflammation raises blood sugar levels, so it's not worth risking your he alth.
Third, it's pneumonia. Everything that is in the mouth has some chance of getting into the lungs. This also applies to pathogenic bacteria. And if usually various defense mechanisms prevent such a development of events, one day it may not be lucky.
Finally, periodontal disease is another reason to worry for pregnant women. Statistically, women with he althy gums are much less likely to give birth prematurely. The mechanism of this relationship is not yet entirely clear, but it has been noticed that with periodontal disease in the mother, the fetus gains weight much worse, and in her body, the level of substances that provoke labor activity rises ahead of time. In addition, there is a higher risk of getting diabetes in pregnant women, which also does not add to the he alth of either the mother or the child.
So, it is obvious that the consequences of periodontal disease do not end with the oral cavity. But still it is not clear why so many people choose to ignore it. After all, no one wants to deal with such serious consequences of a seemingly trifling illness? Of course no. And there is only one way out - to treatperiodontitis. The feedback from patients who turned to the doctors in a timely manner is much more inspiring than those who had to spend many unpleasant hours at the dentists.
Prosthetics
With periodontal disease, of course, teeth and gums are the first to suffer. If the rest of the consequences can not be advertised, then it is almost impossible to hide the exposed necks and roots. So the number one solution for severe cases, especially if prolapse has begun, is dentures.
The main problem in this case is inflammation. Before proceeding with prosthetics, it must be removed, as well as stabilize the course of the disease, if it continues. Even with the complete absence of teeth, defects can be corrected. True, in this case, this process has its own characteristics.
The most popular, although not very convenient, is a removable prosthesis. It is traditionally associated with old age, and it is also quite uncomfortable. The process of caring for it leaves no doubt that there are problems, but this can be a very good temporary solution while the gums heal.
With periodontal disease of moderate severity, when the teeth are just becoming mobile, it is possible to splint them. This allows you to slow down the destruction of the bone, as well as prevent loss. If this is not observed, but the current is heavy, there is a fan-shaped discrepancy, metal-ceramic bridges can help. A consultation with a specialist may reveal the need for some teeth to be removed. In this case, a special device will come to the rescue - splintingbyugel. It will not only fill in the gaps in your smile, but will also hold everything that remains in place.
It is worth noting that prosthetics, when it comes to periodontal disease, is not a whim that allows you to eliminate a cosmetic defect. The fact is that when several teeth fall out, the chewing load on the rest increases, which aggravates the loosening of the rest and further destruction of the bone.
Sometimes surgeons advise removing all teeth if there are very few left. Periodontal tissues will also leave with them, which will completely stop the course of the disease, that is, a sclerotic change in the jaw bone. And then the best way out is implantation. There are different options, but they all boil down to about the same thing: several metal pins are implanted into the jaw, on which the prostheses themselves are later fixed. This is a rather long and painful process, sometimes you even have to increase the bone on which the structure will hold.
In any case, do not neglect treatment and consultation with a dentist, who will tell you the best tactics and options. And you can schedule a trip to the doctor long before you need to think about prostheses - then this can be completely avoided.
Prevention
Since the causes of periodontal disease have not been fully elucidated, it is rather difficult to talk about how to prevent this disease. Of course, it is necessary to monitor oral hygiene, visit the dentist regularly, but it is difficult to do more. Of course, it is still possible, and even necessary, to treat and control any other diseases in time, even if they do notbelong to dentistry.
Smoking, by the way, if it does not cause periodontal disease, it seriously worsens its course. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, which is why the disturbed circulation of the periodontium suffers. As a result, tissues atrophy more quickly, and treatment becomes much less effective. And if you don’t feel sorry for your he alth and a beautiful smile, then you should definitely think about the money given for consultations and procedures, and in the future also for prosthetics.
By the way, periodontal disease is not contagious at all. So even with an exacerbation, you can not shy away from manifestations of tenderness, for example, kisses. And this is another reason why it should not be confused with periodontitis, which is caused by microorganisms that are perfectly transmitted through saliva. So you should always listen to doctors and be sure to clarify the diagnosis if in doubt.
