Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults.
Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it. Also referred to as a periodontal disease, gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth.
Gum Disease and Periodontitis
Both gingivitis and periodontitis are often referred to as gum disease, but the two are actually different.
Essentially, gingivitis is characterized by the inflammation of the gums. This is when the pockets start to form, causing sensitivity and a tendency to bleed after brushing or even after flossing.
Periodontitis is an advanced stage wherein inflammation leads to gum disease.
Note that gingivitis does not always lead to periodontitis, it is important to be vigilant once you notice any signs any symptoms of gum inflammation.
Treating Advanced Gum Disease
There are currently several treatments being used by dentists to help with advanced gum disease.
Depending on your dentist and the kind of gum problem you have, your dentist may recommend several solutions.
Antibiotics: Antibiotics may include on-site creams and mouth rinses that can easily pass through the gum pockets and kill minuscule bacteria.
Your dentist may recommend this option together with other gum disease treatment options.
The problem with antibiotics is that they are not meant to be used for long-term maintenance and once you stop using them, the infection will likely return.
Not only do antibiotics kill harmful bacteria but they kill good bacteria as well causing you a whole host of problems down the road.
Some people use oil pulling techniques to get rid of bacteria from the mouth. It is also very less expensive and it can be done at home without even visiting the dentist.
Scaling: This is when stubborn plaque and tartar are removed from the teeth, preventing the further spread of the bacteria.
It is a non-surgical procedure that involves the use of dental instruments. Scaling may also remove bacteria from beneath the gums and is often used for early stage of gum disease. Not only very uncomfortable, but can be very expensive.
Root Planning: Smoothing out the surfaces of the roots, this too prevents further buildup of bacteria. It is a non-surgical method that directly addresses the surface of the teeth.
Oral Prophylaxis: This particular method is more intensive and usually involves several procedures. Typically, oral prophylaxis is done to thoroughly clean the teeth to prevent gum disease.
Scaling is just one of the procedures encompassed in oral prophylaxis combined with teeth polishing, and deep cleaning in between the gums.
For a thorough clean, the process can also include a water rinse wherein pressurized liquid is pumped around the mouth, forcing all kinds of bacteria out. It is marginally uncomfortable but not too much as it would cause pain.
Soft Tissue Grafts: Once the gum recedes, the roots of your teeth may become exposed, making it necessary to reinforce the tissue and provide more ‘gripping space’ for the teeth. Tissue is then taken from the roof of your mouth and grafted into the areas that need attention.
Obviously, this is a kind of surgical procedure that may take time and is recommended for badly damaged gum lines. This can be a very expensive procedure even for those fortunate enough to have insurance
Guided Tissue Regeneration: In some cases, it is unnecessary to completely graft bone. Since the body is capable of healing itself, all a dentist has to do is guide the regeneration of the bone, ensuring that it grows where it is supposed to without intervention from other body parts.
What happens here is that a biocompatible fabric is placed between the tissue and the bone. This prevents the tissue from growing into the bone, giving the bone the chance to repair and heal itself. This can also be a very expensive treatment.
Risks to Conventional Treatments
The risks to conventional treatments go beyond the possibility of them not working as expected.
These treatments are expensive – not to mention painful.
Surgical techniques may require more than just one session, prompting individuals to visit their dentist multiple times.
Just like all types of surgeries, there is also the possibility of something going wrong – like the emergence of infection that eventually makes the condition worse.
This is why you should start employing at home natural, techniques to reverse your gum disease as soon as possible to avoid the complications of surgery.