Periodontitis is a chronically progressive inflammatory disease that, especially in its advanced stages, can cause significant attachment loss around the teeth.
In addition, it can affect the increased mobility of the teeth, cause tooth loss, the sensation of longer teeth due to gingival recession, the appearance of black spaces between them, problems with phonation and swallowing food, among others.
Most of these signs lead to esthetic problems in patients, but even more serious are the consequences demonstrated by different scientific investigations, which attribute to periodontitis the development of pathologies such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, problems in pregnancy and childbirth and Alzheimer’s disease.
What factors influence the development of periodontitis?
- Accumulation of bacterial plaque.
- Smoking.
- Systemic diseases, mainly diabetes.
Given the importance of oral hygiene as the main antidote against oral diseases, it is essential that we know the recommendations to follow, being these:
- Brush your teeth a minimum of twice a day.
- Use dental floss after brushing. For patients who have already started to develop periodontitis, hygiene between the teeth is a priority for the prevention and cure of periodontal disease. Flossing or interproximal brushes or rubber tips can be used.
Do you doubt if you have periodontitis or gingivitis?
The defining characteristic that differentiates periodontitis from gingivitis is that in periodontitis there is a loss of attachment and bone loss around the teeth.
Uncontrolled or untreated gingivitis can lead to the onset of periodontitis.
How should periodontitis be treated?
The aim of periodontitis treatment should be to reduce inflammation in the periodontium by mechanical debridement of bacterial plaque and supra- and subgingival calculus.
This treatment in turn leads to a reduction of the bacterial load of bacteria pathogenic to the periodontium.
Along with mechanical treatment, the use of oral antiseptics and local and systemic antibiotherapy in certain cases of the disease can be adjuvant therapies.
Finally, remember the importance of regular visits to the dentist and regular check-ups of your mouth. The sooner you attack the problem, the more solutions you will have within your reach.