Periodontics is the dental discipline that treats the affectations of the gums, which simply put, are two:
1. Gingivitis, which consists of an inflammation of the gums, characterized by redness, bleeding and gingival inflammation, but which can be a reversible process if we improve oral hygiene.
2. Periodontitis, which occurs if gingivitis is not resolved. It is a chronic process that affects the supporting apparatus of the tooth and in particular the bone, which is being lost. To an extreme degree, the teeth move and can be lost.
Both pathologies can be contagious if the patient has a partner. It is quite common that if one of the two partners suffers from it, so does the other, although, of course, there are exceptions.
It is important to note that healthy gums should never bleed. If it does, at best it will be gingivitis, a pathology that, as mentioned above, is reversible if properly treated.
Prevent
Prevention is the most effective measure to avoid suffering from gingivitis, and it simply consists of proper oral hygiene and elimination of bacterial plaque, although factors such as smoking are also determinant.
Adequate oral hygiene should be performed every night, with the use of a correct brushing technique and interdental hygiene (with dental floss, interoximal brushes, irrigator, etc.). As a complement, you can even use a specific toothpaste and mouthwash for the gums.
If periodontitis is already established, the treatment is more complex and in some cases requires surgical treatment. It should be taken into account that periodontitis is a chronic process, so in addition to treatment it is essential to have an adequate maintenance program with several visits per year, depending on various factors.
Surgery
Surgery to treat periodontitis consists of opening the gum, eliminating the periodontal pocket, the granulation or infectious tissue and decontaminating the bone and cementum of the root of the tooth.
Occasionally, regeneration treatments of the lost bone are performed. Finally, the gum is sutured appropriately.