Periodontal Disease: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Periodontal disease refers to a condition in which inflammation is noticed around the tooth. The disease is mainly caused due to formation of plaque and tartar on the surface of the teeth. It is a severe form of gingivitis (gum disease) and is marked by loss of attachment between the jawbone and the teeth. Periodontal disease damages the tissues and bone that hold the teeth. The disease is more common in adults, than in children. Loss of teeth among adults is primarily caused due to periodontal disease.

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

Symptoms of periodontal disease do not appear until the disease has progressed to the advanced stage. Abnormally bulging gums is a common symptom of periodontal disease. The other few obvious warning signs of this disease are as follows:

• Swollen gums
• Persistent bad breath
• Gum bleeding
• Sores and pain in the mouth
• Loose teeth
• Bleeding, while brushing and eating hard food
• Pus observed between the gum and tooth

Causes of Periodontal Disease

Poor oral hygiene: Ignoring oral health is considered to be the main cause of periodontal disease. Bacteria in our mouth are constantly forming a colorless, sticky film (plaque) on our teeth. If brushing and flossing is not done regularly, plaque gets accumulated, which hardens over a period of time, to form bacteria harboring tartar. Unfortunately, normal brushing cannot remove tartar. Only a professional dentist will be able to remove tartar.

Bad habits: People who smoke or chew tobacco have higher chances of developing periodontal disease.

Illnesses: Patients suffering from diseases that damage the gums, or diseases that affect the immune system, like diabetes, HIV, cancer, etc., are more susceptible to infections, including periodontal disease.

Medications: There are certain drugs such as dilantin that is used for treating seizures. Intake of dilantin tablets can negatively affect the gum tissue. Antidepressant drugs and oral contraceptives can also affect oral health.

Treatment for Periodontal Disease

A visit to a periodontist (specialist in periodontal disease) is advised, to prevent any further damage. If left untreated, periodontal disease can become chronic (permanent health problem) and lead to tooth loss. Professional treatment can help eliminate dental plaque. Dentists generally go for non-surgical procedures to remove tartar. Following are some of the non-invasive therapies, commonly used to treat this disease:

Scaling: In this procedure, the dentist uses instruments and ultrasonic apparatus for scraping the tartar and plaque that is on the surface of the tooth.

Root planing: After the dentist scrapes the plaque from the teeth, the area is cleaned thoroughly to smoothen the rough spots of the teeth. This procedure ensures reattachment of affected gums and eradication of bacteria, if any.

Medication: Dentists use medicines to control bacterial growth. These medicines are generally applied during and after non-invasive procedures. They are often placed on damaged gums, to suppress bacterial infections.

Surgery is only recommended when the disease does not give any response to non-surgical procedures. Surgery treatments such as, crown lengthening and soft tissue grafting, are commonly prescribed to cure periodontal disease. Dental surgery to cure this disease, mainly involves removing the infected gum tissue.

Practicing good dental hygiene is the best and the most inexpensive way to prevent periodontal disease. Brushing and flossing twice a day, is essential to maintain good dental health. You can also use tartar control toothpastes to prevent its buildup. Rinsing with mouthwashes, prescribed by the doctor, can also help to reduce bacteria in your mouth.