Gingivitis and Gum Disease Cure and Treatment Options
It is a sad fact that gum disease affects most adults at some stage during their lives. While there is not necessarily a periodontal disease cure, there are things you can do in conjunction with your dentist in order to minimize damage and in some cases reverse the disease process. They can also recommend natural at-home treatment options. Various methods can eradicate the condition and usually restore gum health. However, a life-style change is required for long-term success.
There are mild stages of the condition, which can be reasonably easily reversed without leading to long-lasting oral health problems; however, there are also more advanced stages which can be serious. The advanced and chronic form of periodontal gum disease is called periodontitis and it can cause some long-term health issues if it is not taken care of. It all starts, however, at the begin stage of the disease process, which is called gingivitis.
Gingivitis cure and treatments
Almost all gum disease, whether it be mild or advanced, is fostered by the growth and flourishing of bacteria on the teeth and in the gums leading to chronic infection. There are several factors that are involved, but bacteria is key. If you can control and manage bacteria you are on the right path. Gingivitis is the initial stage of gum disease, and it is the mildest. When you have developed this form of gum disease you may notice the following symptoms or even nothing at all:
- Redder than usual gums
- Gums that bleed when you brush them or when you eat crunchy foods
- Bad breath (also known as halitosis)
- Weird taste in your mouth
- Receding gums
If you see some of these symptoms, then you should immediately visit your dentist for a deep clean in order to control and remove the dental plaque and bacteria that cause the condition and further advice about how to proceed. A dentist is able to offer professional diagnosis and personalised treatment plans.
If you notice that you have gingivitis early enough, then you are usually able to overcome it reasonably easily. Often all that is required is that you step up your oral hygiene routine at home. You should ensure that this includes:
- Brushing after each meal using a soft toothbrush or an electric toothbrush (example: Oral-B with an oscillating head).
- Using appropriate toothpaste that does not contain sodium lauryl sulphate.
- Using floss to gently get rid of food that can become lodged in your teeth and gums.
- Rinsing your mouth with a mild mouthwash that does not contain alcohol – (i.e., a natural mouthwash containing botanical oils).
If you follow the above routine and advice each day, you will remove much of the bacteria that are causing and maintaining the gingivitis infection. Check with your dentist that you are using the correct brushing technique and in most cases this will be enough to give you back your total oral health.
Periodontitis cure and treatments
Periodontitis occurs when the earlier stages of gum disease, such as gingivitis, are not observed and treated. When this stage of the condition develops, you are unlikely to be able to overcome it merely through home dental hygiene routines. It is usually the case that you will need professional dental intervention, which may take the form of non-surgical or surgical procedures.
Of course, if at all possible it is best to avoid having to undergo these procedures as they can be uncomfortable and even painful, time consuming and above all, expensive.
Non-surgical treatments
Non-surgical dental procedures may include:
- Antibiotics – medications like antibiotics are not strong enough to eradicate all the infection when you have already developed periodontitis, but they can be of assistance. Your dentist will often prescribe a course of antibiotics to accompany other treatments.
- Scraping and root planing – this is a procedure where the plaque, tartar and bacteria are removed from the gum tissue and periodontal pockets in order to facilitate healing. The root planing smooths over the tooth root surface area so that gum tissue can grow back more easily.
Surgical treatments
Surgical treatments might be needed when the condition cannot be properly treated using non-surgical methods. Some of the surgical procedures that may be performed include:
- Gum tissue grafting – when the gums have receded substantially and there is diseased gum tissue in the vicinity, it may be necessary for the dental surgeon to graft healthy tissue onto the area. Normally the disease free tissue from the roof of the mouth is grafted and placed around the tooth root.
- Pocket reducing surgery – During this treatment, the tartar and infection are removed from the periodontal pockets that form around the tooth. The gum tissue is then replaced more snugly around the tooth to limit the amount of bacteria that can enter the pocket.
There are several treatments that are offered by dentists these days for curing periodontal disease. However, it is always best to prevent this condition by following good oral care plan that includes regular visits to your dental hygienist rather than having to look for a stand-alone periodontal disease cure, that simply does not exist. Discover more about periodontal disease treatment options.