For most people, periodontitis is only a slight hiccup in our overall health and getting periodontitis remedy is impractical and unnecessary. Not a lot of people, too, are aware that periodontitis can occur to anyone regardless of age and gender. Apart from that, only a few people know that periodontitis can be transferred via saliva through sharing toothbrushes, toothpaste, utensils and even kissing. That is why educating oneself and your loved ones about periodontitis is essential as your mouth is the doorway to your entire body. In case you have no clue, there’s much more to lose than teeth if periodontitis is not treated right away.
Periodontitis is an advanced inflammatory periodontal disease which affects the gum tissues as well as the alveolar bones that surround and support the tooth. This occurs when an existing gum infection is not treated at all or immediately. As you know, the bacteria along with the mucus and various debris found in the mouth form a sticky colorless substance called plaque. When not removed immediately, this becomes tartar which is much harder to remove than the former. This then causes inflammation on the gums called gingivitis. When treatment is not administered immediately, the plaque starts to grow deeper into the gum line where the bacteria start to do more damage on the tissues by releasing harmful toxins.
Along with your immune system’s natural response to fight back against bacteria, the toxins released by the bacteria start to break down the bone cavity and the gum tissues that hold teeth. Thus, the tissues and bone cavity starts to weaken and deteriorate, causing your tooth to become lose and eventually detach. But tooth loss is the least of your worries. According to some researches, periodontitis is linked to various health problems such as heart diseases or difficulty in controlling blood sugar. In pregnancy, periodontal diseases can cause low birth weight or premature births. It could also aggravate existing medical conditions, such as diabetes.
But the good thing about periodontitis and other gum diseases can be reversed easily, if diagnosed and treated right away. Strict adherence to oral hygiene practices, along with a healthy diet and lifestyle can significantly improve your gums’ health, thus steering you away from the debilitating effects of advanced forms of periodontitis. However, for moderate to severe cases, surgical treatments such flap surgery can bring back your smile in just a few days to a week, depending on the severity. In some cases, strong antibiotic medications such as medicated mouth rinses, antiseptic chips and antibiotic gels are administered to kill the bacteria and aid in healing. But as always, these treatments must be used in conjunction with strict adherence to oral hygiene practices and a healthy diet.
