Periodontitis

Periodontitis is an infection of the gums and underlying bony structures. It can range from mild to severe. With severe or chronic periodontitis, the tooth itself can become loose and eventually fall out. It can often occur as a result of poor oral hygiene, but can occur for unknown reasons in young people (juvenile periodontitis). If you don’t seek juvenile periodontitis treatment, juvenile periodontitis can progress and adversely affect alveolar bone and periodontal ligament with the recession, pocket formation or both.

Risk factors include diabetes, smoking and other generalised diseases. If left untreated, it can result in the loss of the tooth. Toxins produced by bacteria in plaque, together with the body’s immune response to the attack, are the major causes. Unlike tooth decay, it usually occurs on all teeth at the same time.

Signs of periodontitis include:

• Redness and swelling of the gum.
• Bleeding.
• Bad breath.
• Teeth can become loose and fall out.

There are a number of ways to prevent periodontitis, including:

• Limiting refined sugar snacks.
• Brushing your teeth correctly at least 2 a day for 2 minutes each time.
• Flossing once a day.
• Using antibacterial mouthwashes daily.
• Attending your hygienist and dentist for cleaning and checkups. If it is identified early, your dentist will start wisdom tooth infection treatment immediately and prevent further infection of the gums.
• If you use tobacco products, seeking help to quit and quitting will reduce your risk of chronic periodontitis.

If you are concerned about periodontitis, get a Teledentistry.com online dental consult now, and one of our online dentists will provide you with real-time advice and information on how best to go about treating your condition. Once the bone structures are lost around the tooth, there is no way to regrow this bone, so an ounce of prevention, in this case, goes a long way. Proper maintenance of your teeth will lead to a healthy smile that will last you a lifetime.