Periodontics and How Best to Treat Inflamed Gums

Dental Specialists of Niles • October 13, 2022

Treatment for inflamed and damaged gums is done by a dentist who specializes in periodontics. Find out if you need to see someone for your gums.

About 47% of adults over the age of 30 have some form of periodontal disease. Occurrence increases with age. About 70% of adults ages 65 and up have periodontal disease, too.

If you develop gum disease, you might need to visit a dentist in Niles, IL who practices periodontics. They can help treat your inflamed gums.

What is periodontal disease, exactly, and how can a periodontist in Niles, IL treat it? Read on to find out!

What Is Periodontitis?

Before searching for a periodontist, it helps to determine if you have periodontitis in the first place. Periodontitis, or gum disease, means you have inflammation in the support structures (like your gums) around a tooth. The infection can damage the soft tissues and bones that support your teeth.

When you fail to brush and floss your teeth, bacteria and microorganisms can start sticking to the surface of a tooth. They can hide in the pockets of surrounding teeth, too. Over time, they multiply, causing your immune system to trigger an inflammatory response.

When left untreated, periodontitis can cause tooth loss.

Your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health issues could increase as well.

Causes

Brushing your teeth twice a day can help remove plaque from the surface of your teeth. However, it will build up again after a day or so. When plaque hardens into tartar, it can start damaging your teeth and surrounding tissue.

Gingivitis, the initial stages of periodontitis, could develop as a result.

Certain factors could increase your risk of gum disease, such as:

Inadequate oral hygiene
Stress
Weakened immune system
Certain medications
Some health conditions (like type 2 diabetes)
A diet that's high in sugar and processed carbohydrates
Genetic factors
Smoking
Age

If you believe you're at risk, talk to your periodontist. They can help you make preventative measures to minimize your risk of gum disease.

Check Online Reviews and Get Referrals

You might have gum disease if you experience:

Sensitivity
Inflamed or swollen gums
Bad breath (halitosis)
Bleeding when you brush or floss
A receding gum line
Extra spacing between your teeth
Loose or lost teeth
Changes in how your teeth feel when you bite down
Pain when chewing
Pus between the teeth and gums

Let your periodontist in Niles, IL know if you begin experiencing symptoms.

Home Remedies

Gum disease treatment can help clean out bacteria from the pockets around your teeth. These treatments can help prevent further destruction of your soft tissue and bone. Here are a few home remedies you can use before seeking a dentist who practices periodontics in Niles, IL.

Good Oral Health

The best way to reduce your risk of gum inflammation is to improve your at-home oral hygiene routine.

First, make sure to brush at least twice a day. Floss every day as well. Brushing and flossing your teeth will minimize plaque production.

Plaque is the sticky, clear film that can cling to and between your teeth. If you don't brush plaque away, it can harden into tartar. You'll need to visit your hygienist to have tartar removed before it can compromise your oral health.

Make sure to schedule visits with your dentist twice a year. In addition to minimizing plaque and tartar, they can also screen you for gum disease. If gum disease is only in its initial stages, you can begin treatment before more painful symptoms occur.

Otherwise, switch to fluoride toothpaste and an electric toothbrush. Replace the brush or brush head every three months.

Prevention

You can also make an effort to keep gum disease from developing in the future.

First, seek dental advice if you experience changes in taste or smell. Let your dentist know if you experience dry mouth or other problems, too.

Otherwise, try to limit your consumption of alcohol. Minimize your intake of acidic foods or foods with added sugars, too. Try drinking water after meals to flush food particles and bacteria off your teeth and gums.

Instead, add more fruits and vegetables to your diet.

Avoid tobacco use, which can compromise your teeth and gum health, too.

Medical Treatment

Make sure to visit your periodontist in Niles, IL right away if you experience:

Bad breath
Loose teeth
Ulcers or red patches in the mouth
Bleeding gums
Swollen, sore, or red gums
A lump in the mouth or on the lip

These symptoms may indicate you require urgent treatment. Your periodontist can help you review your treatment options.

Scaling and Cleaning

Scaling and cleaning is a procedure that involves removing plaque and tartar from your gums and teeth. The procedure involves:

Scaling to clean the surface of your teeth above the gum line
Polishing to smooth down rough edges on your teeth
Treating your teeth with fluoride

Scaling and cleaning could help prevent plaque formation in the future. How often you require treatment can vary based on how often plaque accumulates on your teeth.

This process could help restore your periodontal health.

Medications

There are some medicated mouthwashes and products that can help treat gum disease.

For example, your dentist might insert a compound made of minocycline hydrochloride microspheres into pockets. This medication can help reduce plaque buildup.

Your dentist might recommend oral antibiotics, antibiotic gels, or rinses containing chlorhexidine instead.

Surgery

If the above treatment options don't help, your periodontist might recommend periodontal surgery. Surgery can help by removing the plaque bacteria in pockets. It also removes bacteria from the roots.

Otherwise, your periodontist can use regenerative treatments if you've lost gum tissue and bone.

Periodontics: Visit Your Dentist in Niles, IL Today

Don't hesitate to visit a dentist in Niles, IL who practices periodontics. With their help, you can keep gum disease from further impacting your smile. Improve your gum health and say goodbye to inflammation with treatment today.

Need to visit a periodontist right away? We're here for you.

< Older Post

Newer Post >