Periodontitis is a common disease of the connective tissue underneath the gums which is caused by gingivitis. Periodontitis that progresses insidiously may cause loosening of teeth, but it is also linked to overall health. Fortunately, with good treatment, the progression of periodontitis can be stopped.
- Periodontitis is caused by advanced gingivitis. In advanced periodontitis, teeth can wobble and eventually become become loose and fall out.
- Periodontitis is a risk factor for various serious diseases.
- Periodontitis can be controlled by dental and home care.
Do you think that you have gingivitis if, when brushing your teeth, your gums feel sensitive and there is blood in the sink? That may be true – but you may also be suffering from the early signs of periodontitis, which is even more serious than gingivitis.
In periodontitis, bacterial plaque destroys the connective tissue that attaches the teeth to the bone. The tooth can start to wobble and eventually even fall out.
Periodontitis is an insidious disease as it progresses slowly and can be asymptomatic for a long time. You may only notice that something is wrong when the teeth are becoming loose.
Periodontitis can be identified by these signs:
- bleeding gums
- bad breath
- an unpleasant taste in the mouth
- changes in the positions of the teeth
- teeth wobble and eventually fall out
Periodontitis is caused by long-term gingivitis, so gingivitis should always be taken seriously.
Therefore, clean your teeth thoroughly and make sure that plaque does not accumulate in the gumline and between your teeth.
Periodontitis does not show by looking in the bathroom mirror, but requires a dentist's gingival pocket measurement. This shows you how deep your gingival pockets are. The x-ray taken by the dentist also shows whether there is bone loss in the jawbone around the tooth.
Periodontitis not only affects your oral health. It is a risk factor for many serious diseases. Periodontitis maintains low-grade inflammation in the body and increases the risk of heart attack and cerebral infarction. Untreated periodontitis may also impair diabetes control.
This ailment that sounds fierce is very common: In Finland, approximately 70% of men and more than half of women have some degree of periodontitis.
Since periodontitis does not necessarily cause any symptoms, so many people do not know that they are suffering from it.
If your gums are tender, red or bleeding, make an appointment with your dentist immediately.
If you have dental check-ups on a regular basis, your dentist may notice gingivitis in time. And once the gingivitis is treated, it will not develop into periodontitis.
Treatment for periodontitis is quite simple, as long as the dentist can start it on time.
There is no need to be afraid of pain, as the dentist will use local anaesthesia, if necessary.
The treatment of periodontitis by a dentist is as follows:
- At the first appointment, the dentist cleans the tooth and tooth root surfaces with ultrasound, hand instruments and, if necessary, powder cleaning.
- At the second appointment, your dentist will check if you still have deepened gingival pockets in your mouth and will assess how the treatment has progressed, whether the cleaning interval is correct and whether self-care is sufficient.
- Maintenance treatment includes, for example, regular cleaning by ultrasound or powder cleaning. Your dentist will always plan your treatment individually.
Advanced periodontitis means that the tooth has lost most of its bone support. Then, tooth extraction may be the best solution. There is no reason to be afraid of this procedure either.
To prevent recurrence of periodontitis, it is important that you continue to treat the periodontitis at home:
- Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste in the morning and evening. The easiest way to clean your teeth is with an electric toothbrush.
- Clean the interdental spaces regularly. Some prefer dental floss, others an interdental brush – your dentist will advise you on the technique and the tool that suits you.
- Stop smoking because it exposes you to periodontitis.
The specialist interviewed for the article was Chief Dentist Anni Mäkinen.
Periodontitis is an inflammation of the connective tissue of the teeth, in which the bacterial plaque destroys the connective tissue fibres underneath the gums that fix the teeth to the bone. The tooth then starts to become loose and finally falls out.
You cannot completely recover from periodontitis, but if it is carefully treated – both at the dentist and at home – it can be controlled and the infection stopped.
Bad breath can be one of the symptoms of periodontitis. In addition, you might have a bad taste in your mouth.
Periodontitis may recur if you do not continue your dental home care diligently after the dentist’s treatment.
A dentist will assess the condition of your oral and dental health and give you personal recommendations on how often you should have a dental check-up.
With a dentist experienced in treating patients with dental fear, you can face your fears safely and at your own pace.
