Periodontal Disease: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

Periodontal disease is a severe gum infection that can slowly deteriorate the guns, underlying bone, and teeth. Periodontal or gum disease is mostly caused by poor oral hygiene but can be triggered by certain risk factors discussed later in the blog.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, as reported by WebMD, nearly 30% of the American population are susceptible to gum disease due to genetics. So, if a close family member suffers from periodontal disease, you are at a higher risk of developing it sometime in your lifetime.

Causes of Periodontal Disease

The causes of periodontal disease are many; here are a few:

• Poor oral hygiene practices such as not brushing or flossing
• Smoking, chewing tobacco, or usage of recreational drugs
• Obesity
• Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause.
• Lack of nutrition
• Illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, and HIV
• Medication that tends to decrease the production of saliva or lead to abnormal gum tissue growth

Treating Periodontal Disease

The treatment for periodontitis depends on the stage of infection and overall health. The treatment options are:

• Non-surgical Treatments: Non-surgical procedures to treat gum disease would aim to clean and remove the tartar on the teeth and around the gums. Professional cleaning, scaling, and root planing are non-invasive dental procedures that treat the initial stages of gum disease.
• Surgical Treatments: In severe cases, surgical treatments are taken up to regenerate gum tissues that are damaged, conduct tartar cleanup by pulling the gums back, restoring teeth with bone grafts, and so on.
• Drugs: Along with surgical or non-surgical procedures, drugs that get rid of bacteria that cause gum disease are given to eliminate gum disease's causal factors.

How to Prevent Periodontal Disease

While a few of the ways to prevent periodontitis is to avoid habits such as smoking, keeping illnesses such as diabetes in check, and consuming nutritious food, the two most important ways to prevent gum disease are:

• Maintain Good Hygiene: Brush your teeth for a minimum of two minutes every morning as soon as you wake up and at night before you go to bed. Build a routine also to floss and rinse after brushing for effective cleaning.
• Dental Visits: Visiting the dental office every six months is of utmost importance because dentists can evaluate your oral health and suggest treatments and preventive measures. Skipping checkups will only lead to your conditions getting worse.

If you have swollen or red gums, gums that bleed, bad breath, loss of teeth, painful chewing, pus between teeth or gums, or receding gums, visit the dentist as soon as possible to get yourself treated by a dental professional.