Often painful, causing bad breath and swelling, periodontitis is often the consequence of gingivitis. What is aggressive periodontitis? What treatments to cure it?
Periodontitis is a infectious disease usually caused by gingivitis. It can be severe or aggressive depending on its characteristics. She is often painful. Antibiotics and mouthwashes are not the most recommended treatments. What are the symptoms ? How to diagnose it? how to cure periodontitis?
Definition: what is periodontitis?
Periodontitis is a damage to periodontal tissues (i.e. supporting tissues of the tooth: bone, ligament, gum, cementum). It often follows a gingivitis (or inflammation of the gums). Periodontitis is acute inflammationwith progressive loss of bone which can lead to the mobility of the tooth, then in the long term to the fall of the tooth.
What are the causes of periodontitis?
Periodontitis can be caused by specific bacteriabut also by poor oral hygieneby age, by hormonal changes (especially during pregnancy or menopause), by diseases (especially by diabetes and HIV), as well as lifestyle habits: consumption of tobacco, alcohol or even malnutrition.
What are the symptoms of periodontitis?
Periodontitis is manifested by redness and swelling of the gums, sometimes with suppuration. It can be accompanied by pain, discomfort, halitosis (bad breath). “On examination, the dentist finds a loss of attachment of the ligament (which connects the tooth to the bone) and mobility of the teeth“, explains Dr. Vidal.
Can e-cigarettes cause periodontitis?
“The effects of e-cigarettes on periodontal disease are still debated, but seem to be a reality“, explains Doctor Vidal. And to add: “electronic cigarettes can be considered as a interesting alternative to accompany smoking cessation, but it is not a solution in itself“.
Can a dental crown cause periodontitis?
“Ill-fitting dental crowns are factors of periodontitis, in the sense that they do not allow rigorous dental hygiene, and therefore the accumulation of dental plaque“, warns Doctor Vidal. On the other hand, a well-adapted crown allows good healing of properly treated periodontitis.
What is aggressive periodontitis?
Aggressive periodontitis is an attack of acute damage to the periodontal tissues which mainly affects young patients, without general disease. It is characterized by early bone loss and severe attachment loss. A bacterium (Porphyromonas gingivalis) is often found which seems to be specific to this pathology. “It is found predominant in certain families” notes Dr. Vidal.
What is severe periodontitis?
For Dr. Vidal, “Severe periodontitis characterizes just the stage of periodontal disease : because of its seniority or sometimes its aggressiveness.”
Is periodontitis contagious?
Periodontitis is a infectious disease, linked to the presence of bacteriabut in the middle of other cofactors. “In absolute terms, I want to say that it’s contagious, but I don’t find no literature that speaks of contagione”, adds the specialist;
The diagnosis of periodontitis is mainly placed by the attending dentist after clinical and radiographic examination. The clinical examination shows bleeding gums, the presence of periodontal pockets (ie a loss of attachment of the ligament) and sometimes dental mobility. The severity of the attack can be measured by carrying outa measure of ligament attachment loss (i.e. the depth of the periodontal pockets) and by analysis of a periodontal status (realization of a set of precise x-rays). This last one is “progressively replaced by a high-precision 3-dimensional radiographic examination (Cone beam)”, adds Dr. Vidal. These measures may be of interest in evaluating the success of the treatment implemented. Sometimes a antibiogram can be performed to recognize the bacteria present in the mouth.
“Antibiotics are rarely useful”
What treatments to treat periodontitis?
“Antibiotics are rarely helpful“, points out Dr. Vidal from the outset. The treatment consists first of all in the implementation of rigorous oral hygiene and by modifying harmful lifestyle habits (mainly quitting smoking). Descaling-polishing Then surfacing are recommended in the treatment of periodontitis. Sometimes, surgical procedures are required. “Local cofactors can be taken care of, by replacing unsuitable prostheses, by replacing missing teeth, by improving occlusion (i.e. points of contact between teeth)“, adds our interlocutor.
In order to prevent periodontitis, it is recommended to adopt a good oral hygiene:
► Brush your teeth for 2 minutes 3 times a day with soft toothbrush, or electric toothbrush.
► Perform a interdental brushing (thread, brushes, jet).
► Consult regularly his dental surgeon (6 months to 1 year, depending on the patient).
► Consult in case of bleeding gums or tooth mobility.
► Mouthwashes are not recommended over the long termrecalls the specialist.
► Stop brushing if gums bleed : “it will only aggravate the problem by maintaining the factors of periodontal damage in place”, he specifies.
Thanks to Dr Cyril Vidal, dentist.