Gum diseases - photos, names, symptoms and treatment

From this article you will learn:

what are gum diseases,
how do they differ from each other,
treatment and symptoms of gum disease in adults.

The article was written by a dentist with more than 19 years of experience.

Gum disease is a whole group of diseases, among which the most common are “gingivitis” and “periodontitis”, and much less frequently are diseases such as periodontal disease. The latter term is known to everyone, but in most cases patients use it incorrectly, using it to refer to inflammation of the gums. Although real “periodontal disease” occurs without inflammation at all and is only a degenerative gum disease.

In professional language, gum disease is usually called “periodontal disease,” and dentists who specialize in the treatment of this pathology are proudly called periodontists. Therefore, if you have one of the gum diseases, we recommend that you contact periodontists for advice and treatment, and not regular dental therapists. The same applies to regular removal of dental plaque.

What is periodontium (periodontal disease) –

This is a complex of tissues surrounding the tooth, which includes - 1) the gums around the tooth, which is part of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, 2) periodontium - the ligamentous apparatus due to which the tooth is attached to the bone, 3) the bone tissue around the tooth. In accordance with the fact that various gum diseases are accompanied by inflammation and/or destruction of the constituent parts of the periodontium, these diseases are called the specific term “periodontal diseases”.

In addition to gingivitis, periodontitis and periodontal disease, periodontal diseases include 2 more groups of diseases. Firstly, quite rare “idiopathic periodontal diseases” (these include desmontosis, histocytosis-X and Papillon-Lefevre syndrome). Secondly, these are benign tumor-like formations, called “periodontomas”. These include, for example, diseases such as gingival fibromatosis, epulis and periodontal cysts.

Gum disease: symptoms and treatment

Gum diseases in adults and children occur in the same way. Below we will analyze each disease - with a description of its characteristic symptoms and photographs of the patients’ teeth and gums. The information will allow you to easily distinguish one disease from another, and understand how much professional treatment you will need in different situations.

The author of the article has more than 10 years of experience as a periodontist, and therefore our recommendations really work (state-issued documents on advanced training in the Periodontology program can be viewed in the editorial section).

Tartar

Like other dental diseases, tartar is formed due to the increased activity of pathogenic microflora in the mouth. During the life of microbes, especially with irregular oral hygiene, a large amount of soft bacterial plaque is formed. Under some circumstances, it is this plaque that becomes the basis for the formation of tartar.

Provoking factors include, in addition to the lack of proper hygiene, improper placement of molars, their crowding, which makes normal brushing difficult, features of the composition of saliva, and systemic pathologies that affect the pH level in the mouth. Symptoms of tartar:

accumulation of a large amount of bacterial plaque on the tongue, at the roots of teeth, in periodontal pockets;
gradual hardening of plaque and the formation of gray or dark brown stone, mainly on the posterior surfaces of the lower molars;
inability to remove hardening and darkening with a toothbrush and abrasive pastes.

Dentists begin to treat many dental diseases with the removal of hard stone, since this measure is the prevention of diseases of the teeth and gums, such as periodontitis, gingivitis and periodontal disease. There are different types of removal procedures, one of which is ultrasonic cleaning. The tip of a special device vibrates at ultra-high frequencies, providing chipping of hardenings, polishing and grinding the enamel of molars.

At the same time, the doctor gives the patient advice on choosing a toothbrush and paste, using floss and mouthwash after meals, explaining how to prevent the re-accumulation of plaque.

This is what tartar looks like

Gingivitis –

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gingival margin, including the interdental gingival papillae (i.e., that part of the gum that is directly adjacent to the necks of the teeth). The main symptoms of this disease are periodic bleeding and soreness of the gums when brushing teeth, redness or cyanosis of the gingival margin, swelling of the gingival papillae, and often there is bad breath. Gingivitis with a predominance of such symptoms is called “catarrhal” by dentists.

Gum disease: photo of teeth with gingivitis

The cause of the development of catarrhal gingivitis is exclusively insufficient oral hygiene. As a result, soft microbial plaque accumulates at the necks of teeth, and hard dental deposits can also form (we are talking about tartar). In this case, the development of inflammation is due to the fact that pathogenic bacteria that are part of microbial plaque and tartar secrete various toxins and inflammatory mediators, which trigger a chain of inflammatory reactions in the gums.

Therefore, the main treatment for inflammatory gum diseases is always aimed at eliminating the causative factor, i.e. for the removal of dental plaque (+ normalization of oral hygiene). It should be noted that gingivitis is the simplest and most quickly curable form of gum inflammation, if, of course, the treatment is carried out correctly - with regular removal of dental plaque by ultrasound (the frequency of this procedure will depend on the quality of the patient’s oral hygiene).

Important: inflammation in gingivitis affects only the mucous membrane of the gums - without destroying the dentogingival attachment or bone tissue around the teeth (which is typical for a more severe form of gum inflammation - periodontitis). But the transformation of gingivitis into periodontitis is only a matter of time if the patient focuses his treatment on antiseptic mouth rinses and gel applications on the gums, rather than on the removal of dental plaque and high-quality hygiene.

Enamel lesions

A common problem among dental patients is abrasion of the enamel layer of molars, which has reversible consequences. It occurs due to a lack of calcium and fluorine in the body, food and water consumed, and development is also influenced by hereditary factors, bad habits, mechanical injuries and other factors.

Irreversible abrasion of enamel is observed after dental restoration, more precisely, during the installation of crowns, veneers and dentures, the top layer is removed by the orthodontist. But there are also certain pathologies that require long and difficult treatment; they also belong to dental diseases.

Enamel hypoplasia

This is a specific pathology in which the development of the enamel layer is disrupted due to an abnormal metabolic process. The body does not receive the necessary microelements, as a result the enamel becomes thin and vulnerable. Hypoplasia indicates protein metabolism disorders and serious health problems. Local hypoplasia affects individual teeth, and the enamel becomes yellow and is partially or completely erased.

The disease occurs in children and adolescents, but can also affect adult molars.

The systemic disease affects all molars at once, and is formed due to disturbances in intrauterine development (due to maternal illness with rubella, toxoplasmosis, use of tetracycline antibiotics), as well as in early childhood, due to unbalanced nutrition and metabolic problems. Symptoms:

the appearance of yellow spots on the enamel layer, white stripes, dots and depressions;
the presence of areas on the crown where the enamel is completely absent;
a change in the shape of the teeth, when the enamel is erased on their entire surface, depending on the location of the modified molars, Fournier’s teeth (butterfly-shaped), Hutchinson’s (a notch on the incisors in the form of a semicircle), Pfluger’s teeth (the front teeth have underdeveloped cusps) and “tetracycline” (the enamel is underdeveloped and painted bright yellow).

Treatment can only be symptomatic, since the changes are irreversible. Therapy consists of enamel reconstruction; for large lesions, filling with a composite material is performed. If the top layer is completely missing, a crown is installed on the tooth.

Fluorosis

The disease fluorosis develops as a result of an excess of fluoride entering the human body and is endemic or occupational in nature. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in children living in unfavorable regions with water enriched with fluoride during the eruption of molars. In this case, baby teeth are not affected, since the placenta reliably protects the fetus from excess fluoride.

In mild stages of the disease, spotted and streaked forms appear; in moderate and severe stages, chalky-speckled, erosive and destructive forms appear. If the patient has a pronounced degree of pathology, the molars often suffer from its various forms. Symptoms depend on the type of disease:

streaked form - chalk streaks and stripes appear on the surface of the molars, clearly visible when the teeth dry, the stripes can merge into spots;
spotted form - spots of different diameters are noticeable on the enamel, merging with each other, their surface is smooth and shiny;
chalky-mottled form - the affected teeth acquire a matte tint, pigmented dots and spots are visible on them, while the enamel is quickly erased, and brown dentin tissue is visible underneath;
erosive form - areas of destruction on the surface are large, the enamel on them is completely erased;
destructive form - erosions appear not only on the enamel, but also on the underlying hard tissues of the incisors, the tooth becomes fragile, its shape is disrupted, but the cavity does not open due to the formation of replacement dentin.

Treatment consists of changing drinking water if analysis shows that it is oversaturated with fluoride

The patient is advised to take calcium and phosphorus to prevent further tooth decay. Laser or chemical whitening is carried out, followed by remineralization with a course of 15-20 procedures, however, in severe forms these methods are not effective. For such patients, it is recommended to install veneers, as well as metal-ceramic crowns.

Periodontitis –

In the absence of treatment or improper treatment of catarrhal gingivitis, the latter inevitably turns into chronic generalized periodontitis. And if with gingivitis the inflammation covers only the mucous membrane of the gums, then with periodontitis there is a gradual destruction of the periodontal attachment, as well as the bone tissue around the teeth. As a result, over time this leads to tooth mobility and the need for their removal.

Gum diseases: photos of teeth with periodontitis

Periodontitis can be mild, moderate or severe. The symptoms of a mild form of periodontitis differ little from the symptoms of catarrhal gingivitis, and the patient in most cases will not notice that the condition of the gums has immediately “significantly worsened.” Vivid symptoms of periodontitis (mobility of teeth, their displacement, exposure of roots) become noticeable only in moderate and severe forms.

Differences between periodontitis and catarrhal gingivitis –

In addition to bleeding and sore gums, as well as swelling, redness or bluishness of the gums with catarrhal gingivitis, periodontitis occurs:

destruction of the periodontal attachment,
destruction of bone tissue and periodontal fibers, due to which the tooth is attached to the bone,
formation of periodontal pockets (Fig. 6),
presence of subgingival tartar,
suppuration from periodontal pockets (during periods of decreased immunity),
Over time, mobility and displacement of teeth appear.

Differences between periodontitis and gingivitis: diagram

With mild periodontitis, the depth of periodontal pockets is no more than 3.5 mm (and this still allows for very effective treatment and stabilization of the process). With moderate/severe periodontitis, the depth of periodontal pockets reaches 5-6 mm or more, and the amount of bone destruction around the tooth is such that mobility of first individual, and then most teeth appears. Further, under the influence of mechanical loads, the teeth begin to shift in different directions or fan out (Fig. 6-7). You can find out more about the symptoms of periodontitis and what it looks like on x-rays in the article at the link below.

→ Signs of periodontitis in adults

Important: over many years of working as a periodontist, I have seen thousands of patients with periodontitis, which always occurs for the same reason. The basis is always irregular and/or poor-quality oral hygiene, against which the patient has been using antiseptic rinses, gels and toothpaste for bleeding for many years (believing that this is the best and only protection against gum inflammation). Such patients spend a huge amount of time on various procedures, but cannot bring themselves to spend 3-4 minutes 3 times a day brushing their teeth after each meal (including the mandatory use of dental floss).

As a result, patients regularly “suppress” the symptoms of inflammation with the help of anti-inflammatory drugs, while toxins from microbial plaque and hard tartar continue to destroy the gums and their attachment to the teeth (this process is simply less noticeable). This is because most patients with periodontitis struggle exclusively with the symptoms of the disease (bleeding, swelling of the gums), and not with the cause of their inflammation - soft microbial plaque and tartar.

Local form of periodontitis –

In addition to chronic generalized periodontitis, with which most patients seek treatment for gum inflammation, there is also so-called localized periodontitis. The latter is characterized by the development of not all, but only 1-2 teeth in the area. It is caused by local reasons. This may be an overhanging edge of the filling in the interdental space, or a poorly placed filling on the side surface of the tooth (as a result of which there is no tight contact between the teeth in the interdental space).

This could be a traumatic bite, i.e. in the presence of so-called “super contacts” (when the teeth do not close at the same time, but there is premature biting on some teeth, which over time will lead to their mechanical overload). These can be poorly made removable dentures, as well as low-quality artificial crowns (24stoma.ru). The latter, like fillings, can either injure the gingival margin, or have supercontacts, or have poor contacts with neighboring teeth in the interdental spaces.

Treatment of localized periodontitis involves eliminating the traumatic factor. This may be expressed in the need to replace a filling, crown, prosthesis, or in the presence of supercontacts - in the need for “selective grinding of teeth.” The rest of the treatment is carried out only after the traumatic factor has been eliminated. It may include anti-inflammatory therapy, as well as curettage of the periodontal pocket.

Caries

This is the name given to a common pathology of hard dental tissues, which is characterized by demineralization and subsequent destruction of the molar. The disease begins with the formation of a small spot on the enamel, which is not even noticeable at first. Then it acquires a yellow-brown color, the affected teeth hurt, and react sharply to hot, cold and sweet foods.

If the development of the disease is not stopped at the initial and middle stages, it will be accompanied by pulpitis (nerve inflammation) and periodontitis, which can cause tooth loss. Also, chronic foci of infection in the form of carious cavities increase the risk of recurrent diseases of the body.

Reasons for development:

insufficient oral hygiene (irregular brushing of teeth, ignoring rinses and dental floss after meals);
poor nutrition, in which carbohydrate foods predominate, with a lack of vegetables, proteins and vitamins;
hypovitaminosis – a lack of essential microelements in the body;
living in unfavorable environmental conditions, with insufficiently fluoridated water or where food that does not contain phosphorus and calcium predominates;
improper formation of teeth in children due to rickets, tuberculosis and other diseases;
gastrointestinal pathologies;
a sharp decrease in immunity.

The listed reasons cause changes in the structure of the enamel layer, as a result of which plaque cannot be completely cleared from the surface of the teeth, and the process of bacterial growth accelerates. Caries develops in several stages. As already mentioned, in the initial stage it has the form of a barely noticeable spot on the enamel; it becomes rough, with elements of demineralization.

Further, if the patient does not notice the first sign of pathology, the second stage begins, with a carious cavity forming under the enamel layer with dentin damage. Next, deep caries occurs, with the transition of the inflammatory process beyond the dentin, which is already fraught with various complications.

Starting from the second stage, the destruction process is accompanied by tedious pain that intensifies at night; analgesics help relieve them, but only temporarily

To avoid tooth loss as a result of its complete destruction, it is necessary to consult a dentist in a timely manner. The doctor will determine the degree of development of the problem and select the appropriate treatment method. At the stain stage, remineralization of the enamel is sufficient (it is restored using a special solution); at the superficial, medium and deep stages, this measure will no longer be enough; treatment followed by filling is necessary.

If the pathology is advanced, medicated pads impregnated with calcium hydroxide are used, which promotes the formation of secondary dentin, to strengthen and prevent tissue destruction.

Periodontal disease –

If gingivitis and periodontitis are interrelated and, in fact, are successive stages of the inflammatory process, then periodontal disease is a completely special disease. It is not based on an inflammatory process, but on neurotissue degeneration of all periodontal tissues (i.e. gums, periodontal tissue and bone tissue around the teeth). The mucous membrane of the gums with periodontal disease has no signs of inflammation - it is pale pink, dense, and there is no bleeding of the gums when brushing.

Photos of teeth and gums with periodontal disease –

The main reason for the development of tissue dystrophy (periodontal disease) is age-related changes in blood vessels, and that is why this disease can most often be found in pensioners. It should be noted that with age, the vessels become sclerotic (their lumen decreases), and as a result, the blood supply to the bone and soft tissues of the gums, their saturation with nutrients and oxygen, deteriorates. This causes the development of sclerosis and bone tissue atrophy, which is visually manifested by a decrease in the height of the gums and exposure of the roots of the teeth.

An interesting point in the development of periodontal disease is the lack of mobility of the teeth, even with a significant loss of bone tissue around them. Studies have shown that this is due to a significant decrease in the thickness of the periodontium (due to which the tooth is attached to the bone tissue), as well as due to a qualitative change in the connective tissue, which is gradually replaced by simple fibrous tissue. As a result, the tooth becomes tightly fused with the bone.

Important: as you already understand, most patients incorrectly call any gum disease “periodontal disease.” And in 99% of cases, these patients have periodontitis, which occurs with periodic exacerbations of the inflammatory process, the gums are loose, often bleed when brushing, there is always swelling and cyanosis of the gingival margin (not to mention periodontal pockets with purulent discharge and tooth mobility).

With periodontal disease, the gums are always pale pink, dense, and tooth mobility (unlike periodontitis) develops only when the level of bone destruction reaches more than 1/2 the length of the tooth roots. The diagnosis can be confirmed by x-ray - with periodontal disease, the image will clearly show areas of bone tissue sclerosis (its compaction), and not areas of inflammatory resorption, which are observed with periodontitis.

Other signs that distinguish periodontal disease from periodontitis –

In doubtful situations, the following 2 signs can help to diagnose periodontal disease. Firstly, with periodontal disease there is always a delay in the abrasion of the cusps (on the chewing surfaces of the teeth). The second point is the presence of a large number of wedge-shaped defects in the neck area of the teeth.

Difficulties in diagnosis can occur when poor hygiene is combined with periodontal disease, and then the patient experiences symptoms of catarrhal gingivitis (swelling of the gums, bleeding when brushing) on top of the symptoms of periodontal disease. But removing dental plaque and teaching oral hygiene quickly returns clinical symptoms to the original basic disease.

Pulpitis

The most common dental diseases, in addition to caries, include pulpitis - this is the last stage of its development, when the lesion reaches the nerve area. The pulp is a connective tissue with a fibrous structure, it contains a large number of capillaries, lymphatic vessels and nerves, therefore the main symptom of damage to these tissues is considered to be acute, excruciating pain.

The acute form of the pathology is manifested by attacks of spontaneous acute pain, which can be provoked by hot or cold drinks, sweet food, or frosty air. If caries pain goes away immediately after eliminating the irritant, pulpitis is distinguished by the persistence of severe discomfort for another 15–20 minutes. When the disease becomes chronic, acute pain syndrome ceases to bother the person.

Anomalies of the dentition

During exacerbations, attacks can recur, especially when biting an inflamed molar. Reasons for development:

advanced caries - a huge number of pathogenic bacteria located in the tooth cavity provoke rapid tissue destruction, penetrating into the deepest layers, reaching the pulp;
poor-quality treatment of a carious lesion - some infected tissue may remain under the installed filling, causing re-inflammation and further destruction;
thermal burn of deep tissues - while drilling the affected dentin, the dentist may be in a hurry and perform poor cooling, as a result the pulp is burned.

Also, pulpitis can develop not through caries, but, for example, with periodontitis, through infected gum tissue, to the roots of the tooth and above. When a molar is injured, sometimes the pulp tissues die due to the cessation of their blood supply.

Diagnosis of teeth affected by pulpitis is based on radiographic examination and data from the collected anamnesis (on the frequency of pain attacks and their intensity). Treatment involves removal of the inflamed nerve, root canal treatment and subsequent filling. In this case, pulp removal is carried out using vital (to remove any form of pathology) and deviant (for chronic form) methods.

Gum disease: treatment

It is unfortunate, but the most adequate patients who follow absolutely all the recommendations of a periodontist are those who have self-medicated for a long time with various rinses, ointments, and also used different toothpastes “for the gums.” When such patients come with loose teeth and suppuration from periodontal pockets, they no longer need to be convinced: 1) of the ineffectiveness of such self-medication, 2) of the need to regularly spend money on removing dental plaque, 3) of the need to brush their teeth after every meal, including flossing rather than twice a day.

Yes, such patients have a difficult situation in the oral cavity, but they are easy to work with. And when, after just a few days of adequate therapy, they see the first positive results, and you further recommend splinting their mobile teeth with fiberglass or curettage of periodontal pockets - they sign up without any questions and do it. But there are other patients for whom “not everything is so bad,” and who almost always listen with distrust to your recommendations - remove dental plaque, do curettage, splinting, prosthetics. They always think that they are being deceived and cheated out of money, and finally they always ask “how much does it cost” and then disappear for 1-2-3 years.

When they come again, they are also ready to do anything to avoid having their teeth removed and wearing removable dentures, but in many cases this is all that remains to be done. Therefore, when reading this article, you have 2 choices. The first option is that you can take only the anti-inflammatory therapy regimen for yourself, and then treat yourself at home. The second option is to also undergo a course of home anti-inflammatory therapy, but before that, visit a periodontist at least to remove the causative factor of gum inflammation, i.e. supra- and subgingival dental plaque.

Important: remember that gingivitis is reversible, and its proper treatment leads to a complete cessation of inflammation in the gums, and if after treatment, oral hygiene is good and regular, then you will never have gingivitis again. The development of periodontitis begins with the destruction of the dentogingival attachment (i.e., the attachment of the gingival margin to the necks of the teeth). As soon as the fibers of this attachment are destroyed, a path is opened for pathogenic bacteria under the gum, and there they do what they do best - they begin to destroy bone tissue, as well as the periodontal attachment (due to which the roots of the teeth are attached to the bone).

It is no longer possible to restore the destroyed dentogingival attachment and periodontal attachment. The resulting periodontitis can only be stabilized at the stage at which you consulted a doctor. Below we will talk about the general principles of treating gum disease, and you will also find useful links where some treatment issues are discussed in much more detail (than in this review article).

How to treat gums with gingivitis -

In general, you need to start with a consultation with a periodontist, and if periodontal pockets are found during the examination, the doctor will refer the patient to a panoramic photograph of the teeth - with a preliminary diagnosis of “chronic generalized periodontitis.”
If a diagnosis of “catarrhal gingivitis” is made, then this is a reason for joy, because in this case, treatment will consist only of removing dental plaque, a short course of anti-inflammatory therapy, as well as training in oral hygiene. Removal of microbial plaque and tartar is most often carried out using ultrasonic cleaning. This is a completely painless procedure, provided there is no increased sensitivity of the necks of the teeth (otherwise, anesthesia may be required). Usually, with gingivitis, only 1-2 visits to the periodontist are enough, who will remove dental plaque, polish your teeth, and also prescribe antiseptic rinses and gel applications to the gums. Well, he will definitely teach you how to use dental floss and brush your teeth correctly.

Video of dental plaque removal with ultrasound –

Anti-inflammatory therapy –

Anti-inflammatory therapy is prescribed by the dentist immediately after ultrasonic teeth cleaning, and its duration will be 7-8 days for the treatment of catarrhal gingivitis, and 10 days for periodontitis. In most cases (with the exception of patients with purulent discharge from periodontal pockets), there is no need to carry out antiseptic rinses and treat the gums with gel at a dentist’s appointment; you can do this just fine at home.

The procedures are carried out 2 times a day - in the morning and in the evening (after breakfast/dinner and subsequent oral hygiene). Please note that the sequence should be “breakfast → brushing teeth”, and not vice versa. First, you should perform an antiseptic mouth rinse with chlorhexidine solution. Depending on the severity of gingivitis, the effective concentration of chlorhexidine should be from 0.12 to 0.25%, but if we are talking about periodontitis, then rinsing your mouth with only 0.2-0.25% chlorhexidine.

Why exactly these concentrations - you can read at the link above, and in the same article you will find information on specific mouthwashes that contain chlorhexidine in this concentration. To rinse, you need to put 10-12 ml of solution in your mouth (this is about 1 sip) and, without spitting, rinse your mouth for 1 minute. After spitting the solution, it is important not to rinse your mouth with water! And then you will need to apply an anti-inflammatory gel to the gums.

Gel application regimen - I have treated thousands of patients with gingivitis and periodontitis, and in my opinion, the most effective anti-inflammatory gel is the drug Cholisal. If its price is high for you, then an alternative may be Parodontocid gel (however, it will work effectively only if used with antiseptic rinses, where the concentration of chlorhexidine will be at least 0.2%).

Before applying this gel to the gums, it is advisable to dry the wet mucous membrane of the gums using a dry gauze pad, because in this case the gel will stick better. Apply the gel only in front of a mirror, with your teeth bared properly (so that you can clearly see the gingival margin around the necks of the teeth). The gel should be applied only to the marginal part of the gum around the teeth, i.e. on the gingival margin - using a clean finger. To do this, you will squeeze portions of the gel onto the tip of your index finger and transfer the gel from it to the gum.

It is optimal to first treat the gums around the lower teeth, and then around the upper ones. On the gingival margin from the front surface of the teeth, the gel is best applied in 2 stages. First, rub small portions of the gel with light massaging movements, after which the second stage is to apply the gel without massage and leave it on the gum. On the palate/tongue side, it is also advisable to apply the gel, but here it is enough to only rub in small portions of the gel.

Important: we draw your attention to the fact that saliva will always be released during the application of the gel, but it does not need to be accumulated in the mouth or specially spit (swallow it as usual). In addition, after treating the gums with gel, it is undesirable to drink for 30-40 minutes, and it is also undesirable to eat or not rinse your mouth for 2-3 hours. The second treatment should be carried out in the evening according to a similar scheme (dinner → oral hygiene → antiseptic rinse → application of gel to the gums). And so on for 7-8 or 10 days, depending on the type of gum inflammation.

Useful links -

→ The best mouthwashes, → Rating of the best gels for gums.

Oral hygiene training –

Remember that the effect of treatment will not last long if you continue to not floss and brush your teeth after every meal. You can see how to brush your teeth correctly in the following video, and you will find comprehensive recommendations on oral hygiene in the article, the link to which is under the video.

→ Detailed recommendations for oral hygiene

How to treat gums with periodontitis -

You need to start with a consultation with a periodontist and analysis of a panoramic X-ray. Basic therapy will continue to consist of removing dental plaque and anti-inflammatory therapy, which may additionally include systemic antibiotic therapy. Periodontitis differs from gingivitis by the presence of not only supragingival, but also subgingival dental deposits, which are localized in periodontal pockets.

The problem is that not only ordinary dentists, but even many periodontists remove subgingival deposits quite poorly. The fact is that searching for subgingival dental plaque and removing it requires a large amount of doctor’s time (much more than for removing supragingival dental plaque), and time in modern dentistry is money. Therefore, with moderate/severe periodontitis, even 3-4 visits to the dentist may be required for high-quality removal of deposits. Removal of plaque is usually carried out using ultrasound (ultrasonic scaler), but we do not recommend using the Vector system apparatus for primary removal of dental plaque.

Depending on the degree of destruction of bone tissue and the depth of periodontal pockets, splinting of mobile teeth, depulpation of teeth, removal of highly mobile teeth, curettage of gum pockets, prosthetics of missing teeth, etc. may be required. Thus, further treatment for each patient will be individual, depending on the specific situation in the oral cavity. Read more about special additional treatment methods in the article:

→ Treatment of moderate and severe forms of periodontitis

How to treat gums with periodontal disease -

Treatment of this form of the disease is fundamentally different from the treatment of gingivitis or periodontitis. because The cause of periodontal disease is tissue degeneration and sclerosis, and not microbial factors and inflammation. The main treatment will be aimed at stimulating blood circulation in the gums (primarily physiotherapeutic methods are used for this), as well as at normalizing occlusal contacts between the upper and lower teeth.

Effective methods of physiotherapy for periodontal disease -

vacuum massage of gums (including creation of vacuum hematomas),
electrophoresis of drugs,
the use of diadynamic currents,
use of helium-neon laser.

All of the above methods are carried out only in a physiotherapy office; your dentist can give you a referral for the procedure. In addition to physiotherapeutic methods, regular massage of the gums, which can be done with a finger, can have an effect. An additional effect can be provided by regular courses of using Asepta gel containing beekeeping products, which will improve blood circulation in the gums.

Treatment of dental diseases

Treatment of dental diseases always takes place within the walls of a dental clinic; at home, only auxiliary procedures can be carried out - rinsing, applications, taking tablets - prescribed by the doctor. Different pathologies require an individual approach to treatment, but the following procedures are most often performed:

Filling with preliminary cleansing of destroyed tissue.
Depulping – removal of the pulp when it is inflamed.
Installation of prostheses and microprostheses to eliminate visible defects and strengthen crowns.
Installation of structures for correcting dentition: braces, orthodontic caps.
Surgical treatment – removal of the damaged part of the crown, root, tumor or the entire diseased tooth. Usually, removal is started if the dentist is unable to cure the disease, or when it is too dangerous for the patient’s health.

Dental problems are not only unpleasant, but also dangerous to health. The result of prolonged development of the disease may be a deterioration in the patient’s general condition, loss of teeth or the spread of infection to internal organs. It is impossible to prevent dangerous consequences with available home remedies; you need to seek help from qualified dentists.

Important for patients with cardiovascular pathology -

Many patients with gum inflammation try to self-treat, which involves regular use of antiseptics. Antiseptic solutions are not able to completely “disinfect” dental deposits (consisting of pathogenic bacteria) - to their entire depth, because antiseptics affect only the most superficial layer of microbial plaque or tartar. Therefore, firstly, the pathogenic effect of bacteria will continue even against the background of antiseptic rinses. But this is not the most dangerous thing.

Scientific research has shown that antiseptics interfere with the ability of oral bacteria to convert nitrates (found in foods) into nitrites. This bacterial activity is called “nitrate-reducing” and is one of the mechanisms that regulates our blood pressure. The fact is that nitrites formed by bacteria are then absorbed into the blood, and they help lower blood pressure. Therefore, if you regularly use antiseptic products (even toothpastes), this will reduce the production of nitrites by oral bacteria and may cause an increase in blood pressure.

This may not be noticeable in young healthy people, but will be significant in patients with chronic cardiovascular pathology. All these data are confirmed by scientific research - “The increase in plasma nitrite after a dietary nitrate load is markedly attenuated by an antibacterial mouthwash. Nitric Oxide" (2008), authors – Mirco Govoni, Emmelie Å. Jansson, Eddie Weitzberg, Jon O. Lundberg. If you wish, you can read this study using the link above using a browser translator. We hope that our article was useful to you!

Sources:

1. Dental education of the author of the article, 2. Based on personal experience as a periodontist, 3. American Academy of Periodontology (USA), 4. “Therapeutic dentistry. Textbook" (Borovsky E.V.). 5. “Non-surgical periodontal treatment” (Roncati M.).