Caries between the gum and tooth: treatment methods

If not treated promptly, caries under the gum can lead to severe tooth decay and even loss. The enamel at the base of the tooth darkens noticeably, and it begins to react painfully to cold and hot food and mechanical stress. Read the article about the causes of subgingival caries and methods of treating the disease.

Causes of caries in the gums

The main cause of the disease is cariogenic microbes that cause damage to enamel and dentin. They exist in everyone, but they begin to develop only when favorable conditions are created: consumption of large amounts of carbohydrate foods, poor oral hygiene and due to some other reasons. The development of caries at the base of the tooth is associated with its localization and is caused by the following factors:

Due to the characteristic structure of the tooth, plaque constantly accumulates in the root area, which cannot always be removed even with a toothbrush. If you do not make an effort when cleaning, then gradually the neck of the tooth will begin to collapse under the influence of cariogenic bacteria contained in plaque.
In the depressions near the gums, the so-called “pockets,” food debris accumulates. If oral hygiene is not sufficiently thorough, food decomposes and lactic acid is formed, which destroys tooth enamel.

A risk factor that provokes the development of cervical caries may be the consumption of large quantities of too acidic foods that contain quickly fermentable carbohydrates. As a result of their fermentation, organic acid is released, which corrodes tooth enamel and washes away calcium.

Symptoms of loose gums

Increased bleeding from the slightest mechanical impact, for example, when brushing teeth, is typical.
The gum mucosa takes on a constantly swollen appearance and a characteristic blue-violet hue. A kind of dark thread forms at the border with the dense part of the tooth.
Like most inflammatory diseases, loose gums are accompanied by mucous and purulent discharge.
The teeth lose their stability and tight position in the gums, as a result the neck and later the root of the tooth are exposed.

Additional reasons for the development of caries under the gum

In addition to factors directly related to the impact on the teeth, there are also third-party causes that can provoke the occurrence of a carious process between the gum and tooth.

Let's name the most common ones:

hormonal or endocrine disorders in the body;
use of medications that increase enamel porosity;
lack of certain vitamins, especially group B;
poor quality of drinking water;
heredity;
increased acidity of the body;
age factor and others.

Taking into account these additional reasons, the treatment of gum caries should not be limited only to the work of the dentist. In this case, it should be comprehensive with the involvement of several specialists, for example, an endocrinologist and others. If the cause is not eliminated, the pathology will return again and again.

Prevention of the development of gingivitis and periodontitis

The first place is always hygienic cleaning of the oral cavity, including regular brushing of teeth using the products that are most suitable in each particular case.
Regular visits to the dentist for preventive examination.
If you have crowns and dentures, it is recommended to use an irrigator so that you can thoroughly clean them at home. The Waterpik WP-100 E2 irrigator has proven itself well.
The use of medicinal toothpastes containing the latest generation of antiseptics.
The use of effective rinses that prevent the growth of bacteria and, as a result, the formation of pathogenic plaque on the gums and teeth.

Features of the disease

This type of caries is especially dangerous and unpleasant, as it has some peculiarities in its course and location. Its manifestations are associated with the following factors:

Carious lesions are localized in the weakest area near the neck of the tooth (this is the part covered by the gum). In this zone, the enamel is also weakly mineralized, and this factor enhances the development of caries.
Circular distribution. Cervical caries affects the tooth in a circle, covering increasingly larger areas. As a result, part of it may break off, since the integrity will be broken in many places.
Damage to the front teeth. An unpleasant feature of gingival caries is its frequent location on the incisors. A person experiences psychological discomfort when he has to talk, smile, laugh.

Under the influence of the bacteria Streptococcus Mutans, which causes the development of the disease, the enamel and dentin underneath are actively destroyed. Inflammation can spread to the pulp and ultimately lead to pulpitis or periodontitis.

Symptoms of root caries

Pathology has the same symptoms as caries of other classifications, but its impact is more destructive, and the consequences are more unpleasant and more dangerous for dental health. Carious lesions can spread deep inside, gradually destroying all the canals. Here is what the main signs of cervical caries look like:

increased reaction of teeth to cold, hot, sour, sweet foods;
the appearance of dark spots on gums with carious lesions;
pain when chewing food and while brushing teeth.

All of these symptoms indicate the development of a disease that consists of several stages.

Chalk stain. At this stage, a slight dark spot appears on the surface of the enamel without changing its shape or size. Particular sensitivity to acidic foods may occur. At the matte spot stage, caries under the gum is eliminated without the use of a drill.
Superficial stage. The spot becomes rough, and gradual destruction of the enamel begins. A diseased tooth reacts to various irritants, in addition to sour: hot, cold, including cold air, mechanical stress. The pathology begins to actively progress.
Middle stage. Cavities form in teeth as dentin is destroyed. The defect is already becoming clearly visually noticeable.
Deep stage. The process spreads deep into the tooth, reaching the roots and nerve endings. The pain can be very severe, especially at night, and discomfort occurs when inhaling cold air.

There is no clearly defined boundary between the listed stages; the transition from one to another is so smooth that it is almost impossible to track it. In an advanced stage, serious consequences can develop: for example, circular caries, when the process already covers the entire gingival area of the crown in a circle. Teeth at this stage break off easily.

Treatment of cervical caries

It is very important to contact your dentist for help while the process has not yet become global. A competent specialist knows how to effectively treat this disease in order to save teeth and eliminate the consequences. At the initial stage, you can still do without the use of a drill and filling, which allows you to significantly save your budget. The doctor determines treatment methods depending on the degree of pathology and the general clinical picture. Each stage requires its own approach to therapy.

Treatment at the spot stage

In this case, remineralizing therapy and additional means of protection are used. The doctor removes tartar and plaque from the teeth, then applies fluoride strips to the affected areas. This element helps regenerate enamel layers and stop the carious process. At home, you can use herbal decoctions, solutions of fluoridated salt and water to rinse the mouth, use pastes and threads containing fluoride.

How to treat cervical caries of the superficial and middle stages

At these stages, the doctor removes the damaged tooth tissue and polishes the carious area. The procedure is completed with remineralizing therapy. If necessary, a filling is placed.

Method for treating deep caries

At this stage of the disease, coping with it is not an easy task. The treatment consists of several sessions. Here are the procedures the dentist performs:

Anesthetic injection. When treating cervical caries, the doctor must provide anesthesia, since the area near the gums is very sensitive to action.
Cleaning enamel from plaque and tartar. This is necessary to prevent infection from reaching the affected area.
Selecting the color of the filling material.
Removing carious tissue using a drill.

Treatment of the cavity with an antiseptic and adhesive material.
Filling. The composite material is applied in layers, each of them is treated with a photopolymerization lamp for hardening.
Grinding and polishing the tooth surface. The dentist gives the surface the correct shape and makes sure that he has achieved the correct bite.

Thus, each carious tooth is treated. The process can take a long time and cost a lot of money - another argument in favor of regular prevention.

Clinical researches

ASEPTA products have clinically proven effectiveness. Repeated clinical studies have proven that the use of ASEPTA adhesive gum balm for a week can reduce gum bleeding by 51% and reduce inflammation by 50%.

As part of the research, it was also proven that the two-component mouth rinse ASEPTA ACTIVE more effectively combats the causes of inflammation and bleeding compared to single-component rinses - it reduces inflammation by 41% and reduces bleeding gums by 43%.

Sources:

The use of adhesive balm "Asepta®" in the treatment of inflammatory periodontal diseases L.Yu. OREKHOVA*, Dr. med. Sciences, Professor, Head of Department V.V. CHPP**, Dr. med. Sciences, Professor, Head of Department S.B. ULITOVSKY*, Dr. med. Sciences, Professor A.A. LEONTIEV*, dentist A.A. DOMORAD**, O.M. YAKOVLEV** SPbSMU named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova, St. Petersburg - *Department of Therapeutic Dentistry, **Department of Microbiology
The effectiveness of the use of Asept “adhesive balm” and Asept “gel with propolis” in the treatment of chronic generalized periodontitis and gingivitis in the acute stage (Municipal Dental Clinic No. 4, Bryansk, Kaminskaya T. M. Head of the therapeutic department Kaminskaya Tatyana Mikhailovna MUZ City Dental Clinic No. 4, Bryansk
Study of the clinical effectiveness of treatment and prophylactic agents of the Asepta line in the treatment of inflammatory periodontal diseases (A.I. Grudyanov, I.Yu. Aleksandrovskaya, V.Yu. Korzunina) A.I. GRUDYANOV, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof., Head of Department I.Yu. ALEXANDROVSKAYA, Ph.D. V.Yu. KORZUNINA, asp. Department of Periodontology, Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Rosmedtekhnologii, Moscow

Consequences of cervical caries if left untreated

Advanced caries near the gums is very dangerous, it can progress quite quickly and cause complications such as:

periodontitis;
pulpitis;
inflammation of the gums;
an abscess or a well-known flux.

In addition, the development of caries in the gums is often associated with pathologies of the thyroid gland and diabetes mellitus. It is necessary to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis to determine the exact cause of the disease. After the therapy prescribed by the endocrinologist, the disease may recede.

Features of filling caries near the gums

Placing fillings in the area near the gums is much more difficult than with other types of caries - approximal or fissure. This is due to some factors that arise during the work process:

the area near the gums is inconvenient for filling, especially on the upper teeth;
Saliva gets on the affected area all the time, even placed cotton rolls do not help;
During the treatment process, blood is always released, which also enters the working area.

The closer to the root a tooth is damaged, the more difficult it is to treat. Due to the fact that cervical caries most often affects the front teeth, you need to choose the color of the material with special care - it should ideally match the color of the enamel, since the aesthetic visual effect plays a role here.

Prevention of subgingival caries

The development of the disease is provoked by many external and internal factors. And even if caries has never bothered you, preventive measures will help prevent its occurrence and development. Here are some simple rules doctors recommend following:

Brush your teeth with toothpastes high in minerals.
After each meal, use a mouthwash and dental floss - it will help effectively remove pieces of food stuck between your teeth. Oral irrigators can also be used.
Half an hour after eating, brush your teeth if possible. This should be done twice a day for a couple of minutes.
Include in your mandatory daily diet foods rich in fluoride, calcium and other beneficial microelements to strengthen enamel, eat more solid vegetables and fruits.
Avoid excessive consumption of sweets, flour and sour foods.
Periodically massage the gums: it improves blood circulation in the gum tissues, protects against the formation of deep periodontal pockets and the accumulation of deposits in them, which reduces the risk of caries formation at the neck of the tooth.

If the enamel is thin and susceptible to the rapid formation of tartar on it, regular remotherapy helps a lot - this is the name for applying fluoridating compounds to the teeth. The procedure reduces the risk of enamel destruction and improves the condition of hard tissues. To further strengthen the enamel, you can periodically take special vitamin complexes containing useful minerals. In addition, it is necessary to visit the dentist’s office at least once every six months for a dental examination. The doctor will make sure that everything is fine with them, or will prescribe additional diagnostics using x-rays. Once every 6-9 months, it is recommended to carry out professional enamel cleaning using ultrasound or other methods. During the procedure, plaque and tartar are removed from the surface of the teeth. It polishes and becomes smoother, and less deposits accumulate on the enamel. During cleaning, the doctor can also clean periodontal pockets if plaque and deposits accumulate under the edge of the gums.

People who are at risk for endocrine diseases need to be especially attentive to pain in their teeth. With them, teeth are often affected by cervical caries. Treatment must be comprehensive and systemic to prevent caries from damaging the tooth root. Gingival caries is a dangerous pathological process if it is started, but it can be successfully treated in the early stages.

Modern dentistry eliminates caries of various types, but it also happens that if the stage of the disease is too deep, some teeth cannot be saved. We have to remove them and resort to various methods of restoring the dentition. You just need to be attentive to your oral health, taking simple preventive measures, so as not to have to deal with expensive treatment later. With regular dental examinations, you will be able to detect the problem in time and solve it.

Rough gums: what to do?

Often people have to observe how their teeth still have the same healthy appearance, while their gums have become rough. What does this oral condition mean? How to treat rough gums? All this is discussed in this article.

If all thirty-two teeth are completely healthy, but the gums have a rough surface, then you should definitely find out the cause of this condition of the oral cavity and be sure to carry out treatment.

Rough gums are usually a sign of diseases such as periodontitis or gingivitis. They are also accompanied by other symptoms. In addition to a rough surface, the gums may bleed, have redness and small sores. At the same time, your teeth may hurt slightly while eating.

If you notice rough gums, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. If this is not possible, then therapy can be carried out at home. There are several proven methods that will make your gums healthy and remove roughness from them. Let's look at them all in detail.

Applications for gums with essential oils help greatly against such ailments. In order to use them, you need to prepare small cotton swabs. Then you need to mix orange essential oil with vegetable oil in a 1: 1 ratio. Next, you need to moisten the applicators to the resulting mixture and apply to the sore gums for 10 - 15 minutes.

You can use clove oil for lotions. It perfectly removes roughness on the gums and inflammation. It promotes tissue regeneration and eliminates bleeding. To prepare the composition for applications, you need to take six drops per 15 grams of avocado, almond or wheat sprouts. All this should be thoroughly mixed and applied with applicators to the gums. It is recommended to stand for 15-20 minutes.

Geranium oil is excellent for treating rough gums. It should be taken with vegetable oil in the following ratio: 1: 4. It is important to mix the ingredients thoroughly and leave them for 10 minutes. The oils are then applied to applicators and then applied to the gums.

Tea tree essential oil has a wide range of medicinal properties. It is also important that it has high penetrating ability. Therefore, it is often used for applications if the gums have become rough.

The essential component must also be mixed with vegetable oil in a one to one ratio. After this, the finished mixture can be applied to applicators and applied to the gums. You should leave them in the mouth for 10-15 minutes.

Herbs can be used to treat rough gums. For example, you can use linden and oak bark. You need to take a teaspoon of these herbs and pour half a glass of hot water over them. The mixture should be left to steep. After this, you can rinse your mouth with the prepared mixture, passed through gauze. This must be done several times a day. The course should last for 15-20 days.

You can remove rough gums using a collection of the following herbs: calendula flowers, dandelion root, tansy, sorrel root, sweet clover, yarrow. The whole thing is shaved one piece at a time. Next, you need to chop the herbs. Then two tablespoons of the mixture should be brewed with a liter of boiling water. The composition should infuse for about an hour.

Then they should rinse their mouths throughout the day. It would be great if you could add a few drops of calendula and tea tree oil to this composition. Then it will be possible to improve the effectiveness of such treatment. The course of therapy should be 15 days. It can be repeated if necessary.

Propolis-based tinctures help a lot. To prepare them you need to take 150 grams of calamus root (it must be dried) and 200 grams of propolis. All this should be filled with two liters of 30% alcohol. This must be insisted for a month. Then you need to wipe your gums with the resulting tincture before going to bed. During the day, she should rinse her mouth after every meal.

A decoction of stinging nettle leaves can help relieve gums from roughness. It must be poured with a glass of boiling water and after thirty minutes it can be used as a mouth rinse. The course of therapy should be one month.

Aloe can help get rid of rough gums. You need to take 200 grams of the leaves of this plant and grind them thoroughly until a paste forms. It should be left in a dark place for one hour. Then you should boil the aloe pulp in a steam bath. Then you need to strain it and pour it into a vessel. The prepared mixture can be used to rinse your mouth and rub your gums. This should be done as often as possible until complete recovery.

Fresh sorrel juice is an excellent remedy for rough gums. It needs to be mixed with water in a ratio of 1:2. After this, you should take cotton swabs and use them to make applications from this mixture.

For rough gums, you can use the following recipe: you need to take a tablespoon of tricolor violet herb and pour it with a glass of water. All this should be boiled for 15 minutes. Then you need to cool the mixture and rinse your mouth with it three times a day. It must be prepared daily. The course of therapy should be one month.

To treat such an ailment, you can also use crushed walnut leaves. They need to be taken in the amount of one tablespoon and pour a glass of boiling water. All this should be left for 30 minutes, and then rinse your mouth. The course of treatment is half a month.

You can use a recipe based on lingonberry leaves. You need to take one teaspoon of dry herb and pour a glass of hot water over it. Then it must be boiled for twenty minutes. Next, the mixture is cooled and the mouth is rinsed with it. The course of treatment is one month.

Sea salt is great for treating rough gums. It should be taken in an amount of 10 grams and mixed with 20 grams of honey. Then the prepared mixture must be rubbed into the gums after the teeth have been brushed. This procedure requires 10-15 minutes. This must be done in the morning and evening. The course should not be more than 15 days. Then you should take a break for a week. If necessary, therapy can be repeated.

Fir oil can be a faithful assistant in the treatment of such a disease. Cotton applicators should be soaked in it and applied to the gums. This must be done for thirty minutes. After this, the procedure should be repeated after five hours.

For rough gums, an infusion of the following herbs can help: St. John's wort, blackberry leaves, sandy sedge, burnet, blood-red geranium. You need to take them one part at a time and mix them together. Then take a few tablespoons of the mixture and pour it into a thermos. The herbs should be poured with boiling water. The decoction must be infused for two hours. Then you need to strain it and then rinse your mouth several times a day.

Along with one of the selected treatment methods, it is necessary to massage the gums. It’s great if you can do this with a piece of ice. They need to be massaged over rough gums.

You also need to reconsider your diet. It should include as much solid food as possible; it will promote a natural massage of the gums. It’s great if you manage to eat vegetables and fruits such as apples, carrots, black currants and others every day. It is also important to eat more calcium. Therefore, you need to introduce almonds, dark greens, salmon, and dairy products into your diet.

You should also reconsider your bad habits. It is possible that the gums have become rough due to excessive smoking and drinking strong alcoholic beverages. Therefore, you should reduce your consumption of all this to a minimum, or better yet, give it all up.

These are the recommendations you should follow when you find rough gums. You should choose one of the presented recipes for yourself based on your wishes. Each of them is effective.

Several treatment methods can be used. However, don't be overzealous. If it is noticed that after a course of therapy there is still a slight roughness left on the gums, then the course of treatment should be repeated. If there is no improvement after this, then you definitely need to make an appointment with a dentist.

Rough gums are a signal that there is disease in the oral cavity. Therefore, it is imperative to undergo a course of treatment. It may include traditional methods, as they provide excellent results.