How to Save Teeth from Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is widespread. Studies show that almost every person after 35 years has, to one degree or another, manifestations of similar diseases that lead to mobility and tooth loss if treatment is not started on time. 

At Gallegos Family Dentistry we care about our patients’ health and educate them about the oral diseases, that may occur if not proper oral care is taken.

The insidiousness of the disease is that it does not manifest itself for many years. It is important to use modern methods of treatment and prevention of periodontal diseases, which can successfully treat periodontitis in the early stages, stop the severe form of the course and prevent possible exacerbations. 

It is precisely the diseases of periodontal tissues that can cause such systemic diseases as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease. Is it possible to maintain your health and the health of those close to you?

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of periodontal tissues (gums), characterized by progressive destruction of the structure of the jaw bone. 

Periodontitis is a complex disease that occurs as a result of several factors that spread into three groups:

• Pathogenic microflora of the oral cavity.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Lifestyle.

Factors in these groups are interrelated and affect each other.

Individual variations in the microflora of the oral cavity

At birth, the human oral cavity is almost sterile, but already in the first 6 hours’ microorganisms appear in it. They form diverse and complex microbial communities. Interestingly, at different ages, a different composition of microbes is observed: in children, one, in adolescents another, and older people – a third. 

Moreover, more than 60% of oral bacteria remain unknown to modern researchers. The fact is that these bacteria refuse to grow in a laboratory environment, which means that it is impossible to classify, give names and study. 

The formed community of microbes, called biofilm, is a complex, changing micro-ecosystem, a change in the composition of which leads to the occurrence of diseases of the oral cavity. Since microorganisms in a certain amount and composition are constantly present in the gingival region, then their destruction with the help of bactericidal components of saliva and the immune system occurs constantly. But this is if the patient has good oral hygiene. It is proved that if soft plaque is in contact with the gum for more than two weeks, its inflammation inevitably arises – gingivitis. And gingivitis is the first stage of periodontitis.

Genetic predisposition

It is known that about 30% of the world’s population has a hereditary predisposition to gum disease, which means they have a higher risk of developing severe periodontitis. 

Modern comprehensive genetic research allows us to identify periodontitis markers and assess the risk of its development.

Lifestyle

It is reported that middle-aged men with a sedentary lifestyle are at greater risk of developing periodontitis than their peers who regularly experience physical activity. The results of many researches and studies also indicate that people who regularly exercise, have a healthy lifestyle and have a normal weight, are 40% less likely to develop periodontitis.

What is the danger of periodontal disease? 

With periodontitis, inflammatory mediators negatively affect the human body. This effect is especially negative for pregnant women. Mediators stimulate the synthesis of prostaglandins – substances that increase the risk of premature birth. It is proved that the presence of periodontitis increases the likelihood of premature birth by 6–7 times.

For a huge number of people, bleeding – the first sign of periodontal disease – unfortunately, is not a reason to contact a specialist! And then self-treatment begins! Various advertised pastes and rinses are purchased. Or, even worse, abrasive powders, hard-bristled toothbrushes, decoctions of herbs, and antiseptics are used uncontrollably, or until the first signs of improvement. But all this is a time bomb, as the main reason is not eliminated. 

Patients simply spend money and time in vain, and the disease progresses, but with lesser manifestations (a decrease in bleeding gums is due to the activity of toothpaste). Further, not only the visible surface of the gums is affected, the inflammatory process extends inland, surrounding and retaining the root of the tooth to the bone tissue and bone destruction occurs.

A common cause of the periodontal disease is the failure to fulfill the rules of oral care. According to scientific research, 96% of patients in the US brush their teeth incorrectly, and 79% brush their teeth once a day.

How to maintain your health?

Today there is a whole range of measures used for these diseases, and an individual approach is drawn up for each. First of all, you need to visit a periodontist and a dental hygienist who will conduct an examination and the necessary examination. Modern methods of computer diagnostics make it possible to measure the depth of the gingival sulcus at 6 points in each tooth and present to the patient the data of an objective analysis of the periodontal condition. 

Periodontal Disease treatment is divided into professional and home care, which the patient performs independently. This complex of treatment begins with training in the rules of cleaning, and for each patient, they may differ depending on the clinical situation. 

Individual hygiene products are selected: brush, paste and rinse aid.

Periodontosis Prevention Program

It consists of 4 main points.

First: a visit to the dentist at least one time every six months.

Second: oral hygiene.

Third: the use of fluorides intended for dental care (fluoride products for rinsing, toothpaste, gels and solutions).

Fourth: good nutrition.

Oral cavity hygiene

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day; – select high-quality toothpaste: for the treatment and prevention of gum disease, it should contain anti-inflammatory substances, and for the prevention of caries – fluoride compounds;
2. Use dental floss daily to remove plaque from the interdental spaces and along the gum line;
3. Use rinsing agents after brushing your teeth – they help remove bacteria from hard-to-reach places, from the inner surfaces of the cheeks, from the tongue and keep the breath fresh for longer.

By the way, dentists in Albuquerque also recommend the use of fluoride toothpaste is the most effective of the available and clinically proven ways to prevent not only caries in adults and children, but also prevent periodontal disease.

Balanced Diet

One of the most important conditions is to drink a sufficient amount of a clear still water – 1.5–2 liters per day (tea, coffee, juices do not count). With the help of water, a person washes away food debris, which is especially important after taking easily digestible carbohydrates, such as sweets.

Also, in a daily diet, there must be foods rich in calcium and minerals: milk and dairy foods, nuts, and legumes. We should not forget about fresh vegetables, fruits, especially hard ones (they stimulate the release of saliva, which will help to remove plaque from the teeth and neutralize the effect of acids).

There should always be foods rich in vitamins in the diet. They are important not only for dental health but also for general immunity.

And sweet and flour products, on the contrary, only strengthen the process of enamel destruction and contribute to the development of caries, periodontal disease – bacteria easily absorb sugar and form aggressive acids that damage tooth enamel. 

From flour and sweet tooth, plaque is formed more quickly, which accelerates the periodontal disease. It is no accident that therapists recommend carefully monitoring the condition of the oral cavity to prevent general health problems.