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Periodontal Disease


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Periodontal Disease refers to the inflammation of the tissues that surround and support the teeth. In
everyday language, this is also known as gum disease, of which gingivitis is just one. In fact, more than 80% of Americans suffer from one form or another of the disease and hence it is an important issue people must be aware of. This article will explore the causes and risk factors of the disease as well as how to treat it.

Causes


There is one major cause of this disease and it’s poor oral hygiene. This is because the inflammation of tissues in your mouth is caused by the accumulation of bacteria which is the direct result of poor oral hygiene. The bacteria eventually form a constantly, sticky and colorless substance called plaque on your teeth. It then becomes important to remove the plaque as quickly and as often as possible before it hardens.

Risk Factors


If you want to minimize your chances of contracting this type of dental disease, then it’s important to be aware of the risk factors, some of which are outlined below:

  • If you’re looking for another reason to quit smoking, then here it is. Your chances of suffering Periodontal Disease fall if you stop lighting cigarettes.
  • If you suffer from diabetes, then you’re more likely to contract this disease, so be alert.
  • If you are frequently on medication, this could impact the amount of saliva in your mouth and increase your chances of being infected by this disease.
  • If you’ve got a family history of this dental disease, then you should be more observant.

Treatment


Once you’ve been diagnosed with this disease, it’s time to proceed to successfully treating the disease. You may have receding gums or bleeding gums, however, the severity of your condition will determine what treatment you should seek. In total, there are 3 types of treatments for Periodontal Disease.

The first one is known as deep cleaning and involves removing the plaque using a method called scaling and root planning. Scaling involves scrapping off the bacteria from both above and below the gum line while root planning involves targeting the tooth root and getting rid of the toughest spots. This type is normally reserved for those with a mild version of the disease.

For more severe cases, medication should be considered. There are number of medications available with the aim of controlling bacteria and periodontal spots in the mouth.

Finally, the best form of treatment is surgery which can involve one of two things. The dentist can lift back the gums and remove tartars or they can proceed to use new tissue to replace the infected tissue known as tissue grafts.

There’s no doubt that Periodontal Disease is a serious dental disease in the field of dental care.