PERIODONTAL  (GUM) DISEASE

 

Nearly three out of every four people will get some form of gum disease sometimes in their lives, and if it goes untreated, it can lead to periodontitis and even tooth loss.

CAUSES

Plaque: The root cause of gum disease. Irregular brushing and flossing is a major cause for accumulation of plaque. Plaque when hardens turns into tartar(calculus).

Diet: Nutritional deficiencies or excessive alcohol consumption.

Habits: Smoking, chewing tobacco, clenching or grinding teeth, or even improper use of toothpicks.

Oral/Medical condition: Unattended dental cavities, failure to replace missing teeth, unaligned teeth, ill fitting bridges and dentures, broken fillings, diabetes, pregnancy and certain medications like oral contraceptives, steroids etc.
 

WARNING SIGNS OF GUM DISEASE

  1. Bad taste in your mouth.
  2. Bad breath/Halitosis.
  3. Red and swollen gums.
  4. Gums that bleed easily.
  5. Teeth that feel loose/migrating/shifting.
  6. Sensitively.
  7. Mobility.
  8. Spaces appearing between teeth.

 

DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT

 

Probing: Helps measure the depth of space between tooth and gum, called a pocket.

Scaling: Cleaning the teeth at and below the gum line.

Root planning: Smoothing the tooth’s surface below the gum tissue. The Gums can reattach to the tooth more firmly and reduce pocket depth.

Curettage/Surgery: In later stages of the disease, depending on the severity, any of the following procedures may be indicated:

 

  1. Gingivectomy (Gum trimming)
  2. Curettage (Advanced cleaning)
  3. Flap Surgery.

 

PREVENTION & CARE

      • Brush thoroughly twice a day.
      • Hold the brush at 45 degree angle where the gum line meets the teeth.
      • Gently vibrate the brush back and forth in place for several seconds.
      • Move on to the next group of teeth and repeat.
      • Brush your tongue to remove bacteria that cause bad breath.
      • Visit your dentist periodically.
      • Removal of  calculus by ‘scaling’ and polishing your teeth at least once a year.