Gum disease can cause serious complications for your oral health. Gum infections and inflammation gradually destroy the soft tissues and bone that support your teeth, eventually leading to tooth loss. For this reason, treating gum disease is very important to prevent the disease from getting worse and to ensure your oral and dental health.
Different types of treatments, including medication, surgery, and more advanced methods such as laser therapy, are offered to manage and improve gum disease. The choice of the most appropriate treatment method depends on the severity of the disease and each person's condition, which should be determined by a gum specialist dentist.
Understanding Gum Infection
Gum infection is a dangerous condition in the mouth that, in addition to causing infection, leads to inflammation of the gums and pressure on the jaws. If you encounter this type of infection, it is essential to treat it quickly. In reality, the issue is more important than just the pain of a gum infection.
This infection can lead to more serious issues, including advanced dental disease. Otherwise, a gum infection will just appear as gingivitis. The location of a gum infection in your mouth is below the gums, or more precisely, in the space between the gums and the teeth. This causes the teeth to attach to the gums and put pressure on the root of the tooth, which damages the gum tissue. When the gum tissue is damaged, a gap is created in the root of the tooth that can allow bacteria to enter, leading to a gum infection. Since the gums play an important role in supporting the teeth, it is important to keep them in a healthy state.
Causes of Gum Disease
Gum disease is more than anything related to dental plaque. Dental plaque is a thin, sticky layer of bacteria, minerals, and tiny food particles. It is produced almost daily after eating or drinking anything (except water). Methods for removing plaque include brushing and flossing.
If plaque is not removed daily, it will gradually build up and harden into tartar. Tartar can penetrate beneath the gum tissue and cause gum disease. Tartar should only be removed at a dentist’s office.
The gums attach to the teeth at a point just below the visible edges of the gums and teeth. On the outside of the gums, there is a small space that allows food and debris to enter this space, which can lead to infection or inflammation of the gums. Plaque is a thin layer of bacteria that constantly forms on the surface of the teeth. If a person does not maintain good oral hygiene, this plaque hardens and turns into tartar. When plaque spreads below the gum line, it causes gum infection.
If gingivitis is not treated, it can lead to the gums separating from the teeth and weakening the soft tissue and bone supporting the teeth. In this condition, the teeth may gradually become loose and the infection may gradually progress, causing tooth loss.
Gum infection is usually caused by a variety of things. These symptoms can be seen at different stages of gum disease, and their exacerbation may lead to a more advanced infection. Some of the causes and symptoms of gum infection are as follows:
-Swollen gums:
The gums may become swollen and puffy.
-Gum sensitivity:
The gums may be very sensitive and prone to bleeding, especially when brushing or flossing.
-Bleeding gums:
The gums may bleed after brushing or with light pressure.
-Gum redness:
The gums may become red and inflamed.
-Gum discoloration:
In some cases, the gums change color due to a lack of oxygen in the blood.
-Gum recession:
If the gums pull away from the teeth and recede, this is also an indication of gum disease.
-Pain:
In some cases, gum infection may be accompanied by pain.
-Bad breath:
Gum infection may cause bad breath.
-Bad taste in the mouth:
Some people may experience an unpleasant taste in their mouth.
If gum disease progresses, it can lead to more advanced infections and deep cavities in the gums. These cavities are often infected with bacteria and food debris accumulates in them. Timely treatment and regular follow-up are very important to prevent gum infection from progressing.
Types of Gum Disease
Gum disease or periodontal disease is known in two main stages: gingivitis and periodontitis. This disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bones that support the teeth. First, dental plaque, a colorless, sticky layer that forms on the teeth every day, causes inflammation of the gums.
-Gingivitis
The first stage is called gingivitis, which is the mildest type of gum disease. This stage leads to redness and swelling of the gums, and the gums may bleed. At this stage, the patient feels little discomfort or may even be painless. Gingivitis is mainly caused by poor oral hygiene and usually improves with specialized treatment and oral hygiene.
-Periodontitis
If gingivitis is not treated in time, it may lead to the second stage, periodontitis. Over time, plaque expands and grows below the gum line. Toxins are triggered by bacteria in the plaque, initiating a chronic inflammatory response that destroys and destroys the tissues and bone that support the teeth.
At this stage, the gums pull away from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. These pockets deepen as the disease progresses, causing further destruction of bone and gum tissue. This destructive response usually produces mild symptoms, and eventually, the teeth become loose and may need to be extracted.
There are different types of gum disease, the most common types are described below:
1. Aggressive periodontitis:
This type of periodontitis occurs in patients whose gums and teeth are generally healthy if they do not have this disease. Characteristics of this type of periodontitis include rapid loss of tooth-tissue connections, bone destruction, and a family history.
2. Chronic periodontitis:
This type of periodontitis refers to the progressive breakdown of tooth-supporting tissues and bones, and the formation of pockets and gum recession. This type of periodontitis is the most common type.
3. Periodontitis as a symptom of a systemic disease:
This type of gum disease usually begins at a young age and is associated with systemic conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes.
4. Necrotic Gingival Disease:
This gum disease occurs with necrosis or death of the gingival tissues, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. This damage is mainly seen in patients with systemic conditions such as HIV infection, malnutrition, and immunosuppression.
The different types of gum disease mentioned above require specialized diagnosis and treatment to prevent gum and bone destruction and prevent tooth loss.
Other Gum Diseases
In addition to gingivitis and periodontitis, people may experience other gum problems. Below are some of these problems in brief:
1. Whitening of the gums:
Whitening of the gums may be caused by a fungal infection called "oral thrush". In this case, the dentist may remove the fungus from the surface of the gums and recommend the necessary measures to prevent it from returning. Various other factors may also lead to white gums.
2. Leukoplakia (oral freckles):
Oral freckles or leukoplakia is another type of whitening of the gums. In this case, the mouth is covered with white spots that may develop into cancer in the future. Leukoplakia is caused by excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption.
3. Blackening of the gums due to tissue necrosis:
In necrosis, the gums turn black due to the death of gum cells. This disease is usually caused by factors such as viral infection, AIDS, stress, drug and tobacco use, and lack of oral hygiene.
4. Periodontal disease:
Periodontal is a gum disease that damages the structure of the periodontal ligament fibers, which connect the teeth to the jawbone. If any type of disorder occurs in the structure of these periodontal ligament fibers, it may lead to tooth loss.
This disease is usually accompanied by loose teeth, swelling and red or purple discoloration of the gums, bad breath, receding gums, and pus discharge from between the gums and teeth. This disease is more common in men than women and in people over the age of 30.
Treatments for Gum Problems
To treat gum problems, you first need to get rid of plaque and tartar below the gum line. Deep scaling can help remove tartar, bacteria, and clean below the gum line. Here are some of the most common treatments for gum problems:
-Root Planing:
Root planning is a treatment for mild gum disease. In this procedure, tartar is removed from the teeth (especially at the gum line) and all plaque is removed. This procedure helps improve the condition of the gums and teeth. If your gum disease is more severe, you may need to have a deep scaling or scaling below the gum line.
-Scaling:
In this procedure, the dentist uses a tool called a "scaler" to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and below the gum line.
-Orthodontics:
A malocclusion (a misaligned set of teeth) may make it difficult to brush your teeth. This can make it difficult to maintain good oral hygiene and can lead to gum disease. Orthodontics can help improve your oral health and enhance your smile.
-Laser therapy:
Laser therapy is an advanced treatment for gum disease. It uses a laser to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation in the gums.
Gum Disease Treatment
There are several methods used to treat gum infections. Here are some of the methods, including medication and surgery:
Medication Treatment
-Antiseptic Mouthwashes:
Antibacterial mouthwashes are used to kill bacteria and gum infections. These mouthwashes can help improve oral hygiene.
-Topical Antibiotics:
Some antibiotics are used as topical gels or lotions to treat specific areas of gum infection.
-Antibiotics that work on oral bacteria:
Antibiotics may be taken orally to control bacteria in the mouth. Doxycycline is a type of antibiotic that stops bacteria from growing by preventing them from making proteins.
Surgical Treatment
If the gum infection is severe and has progressed to the point where it has destroyed the jawbone or soft tissues of the mouth, surgery is considered as a treatment method. Some of the surgical methods for treating gum infection include:
-Flap Surgery:
In this surgery, the gums are separated from the surface of the teeth and any dirt and bacteria are deeply cleaned underneath them. Finally, the gums are stitched back in place.
-Gum Graft:
In this surgery, a piece of tissue from the roof of the mouth is removed and grafted to the root area of the tooth. This surgery helps to heal and strengthen the gums and prevent the disease from worsening.
-Bone Graft:
In this surgery, bone tissue is grafted to the gum area to enhance the bone formation process in the jawbone area.
-Crown Lengthening:
In some cases, excess and inappropriate gums can cause teeth to crown more quickly. This surgery is performed by adjusting the gums and shortening them.
In any case, choosing the right method for treating gum infection depends on the severity of the disease and the specific problems of each person, so consulting a gum specialist dentist in these cases is very important.
The bottom line
Treating gum disease is very important because ignoring this issue can lead to tooth loss and serious effects on the quality of life and overall oral health. To maintain and improve gum health and prevent gum disease from worsening, it is necessary to follow regular oral hygiene, periodic visits to the dentist for scheduled scaling and other recommendations, including proper nutrition and control of risk factors such as smoking and stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What causes gum disease?
Gum disease is usually caused by a buildup of plaque and tartar, bacteria in the mouth, genetic factors, tobacco use, stress, hormonal changes, diabetes, and other factors.
2. What are the signs and symptoms of gum disease?
Symptoms of gum disease include swelling, redness, bleeding gums, pain, bad breath, gum discoloration, and in some cases, receding gums.
3. How can gum disease be prevented?
Prevention of gum disease includes regular oral care, eating healthy foods, quitting smoking and tobacco, controlling risk factors such as diabetes, stress, and hormonal changes, and visiting the dentist regularly for scaling and diagnosis.
4. What are the treatments for gum disease?
Treatments for gum infection include deep scaling, root planing, orthodontics, laser therapy, and, if necessary, flap surgery, gum grafting, bone grafting, and crown lengthening.
5. How can medications be used to treat gum infection?
Gum infection is treated with antiseptic mouthwashes, topical antibiotics, and systemic antibiotics. The medications used depend on the severity of the infection and the dentist's diagnosis.
