If you have noticed some swelling in your gum or blood in the basin when you rinse your mouth after brushing, it’s quite likely that you have gingivitis. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and needs to be treated before it progresses into a more advanced form of periodontal disease. Once it progresses into periodontitis, it moves below your gum line and into your jaw bone. The effects of periodontitis cannot be reversed or cured, so today we’re going to explain how to get rid of gum disease in the early stages and before it gets more serious.
Understanding Periodontal Disease
Periodontal or gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround your teeth, and your best defence against it is maintaining strict oral hygiene. When you go through hormonal changes, have an illness or neglect your dental hygiene, you could develop gum disease in its earliest form, gingivitis.
You might notice
- Your gums are red and swollen
- Your gums bleed a little when brushing or flossing
- You have a bad taste in your mouth or bad breath, despite brushing.
How To Get Rid Of Gum Disease?
If you do notice these symptoms you must continue to brush and floss, even if your gums feel a little tender. If the symptoms haven’t improved in two to three days, you should make an appointment to see your dentist.
When Periodontal Disease Progresses Into Periodontitis
If gingivitis is left untreated, the infection gets worse and goes deeper into your gums. It starts to affect the fibres that hold your teeth in your gums. As your gums pull away from your teeth, pockets form in between the spaces. These pockets trap more bacteria and accelerate the progress of the periodontal disease. Your teeth might start to look longer because the gum tissue is receding. Over time, the structures holding your teeth in place get weaker and your teeth will start to loosen.
How To Manage Gum Disease When It Progresses To Periodontitis?
You cannot get rid of or cure periodontitis. You can only treat it to stop it from progressing further.
Your dentist may prescribe a course of antibiotics or an antibiotic gel for you if the infection is severe.
In addition, your dentist will need to perform a procedure known as scaling, which removes tartar from below your gum line. It might be necessary to do planing as well.
This is the process of smoothing your tooth roots out, in order to encourage them to reattach to your teeth.
How To Control Periodontal Disease?
You will need to upgrade your oral hygiene in order to manage gum disease more effectively so you do not lose any more teeth. Using a water flosser is beneficial if you have periodontal pockets, as the jets of water do a good job of cleaning them out. An antiseptic mouthwash is also a helpful addition to your oral hygiene products if you haven’t been using it before.
If you need to know how to get rid of gum disease, it’s imperative that you visit your dentist urgently in order to stop the infection from progressing. Please contact us: (07) 3185 2387.
References
Gum Disease: Symptoms and Treatment
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/gums-problems-gingivitis
What is periodontitis?
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/242321
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