How Long Can You Keep Your Teeth with Periodontal Disease.
Did you know that periodontal disease affects nearly half of adults in the United States? As surprising as that may sound, I assure you it’s a fact.
Periodontal disease is one silent killer that makes sure your gums are really uncomfortable for you. They wreak havoc on your oral health, causing endless pain and tears.
It not only affects your oral health; periodontal disease ensures your overall well-being is affected. It’s such a pain that even as an adult, you might end up crying like a baby.
But not to worry. In this article, we’ll try to analyze everything about periodontal disease and delve into its depths. By the time we’re done here, you, my reader, will be equipped with the knowledge to protect your smile.
A Brief Explanation of Periodontal Disease:
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a chronic bacterial infection that targets the tissues supporting your teeth. Most times, people mistake periodontal disease for the occasional sore gums or bad breath that we witness, but no, it goes deeper than sore gums or bad breath.
The issue of periodontal disease starts immediately when harmful bacteria in dental plaque invade your gum line. This invasion inevitably leads to inflammation and damage to your surrounding tissues.
When the tissues are attacked, you need to react. This is because, without your prompt intervention, the periodontal disease progresses, the gums gradually begin to recede, and they will start forming pockets of holes between your teeth and gums.
These small pockets will gradually become a breeding ground for more bacteria. The breeding of bacteria simply means one thing: more infection and destruction of the underlying bone structure.
Painfully, this can result in you witnessing really excruciating pains. If urgent attention and care are not given, tooth loss becomes almost inevitable, leading to a negative impact on your overall oral health.
Don’t worry, In the next sections, we will explore the causes and risk factors of periodontal disease, the signs and symptoms to watch out for, and the various treatment options available to combat this painful adversary.
You definitely need to arm yourself with knowledge of periodontal disease because its experience is not something that should be wished on anyone.
I strongly advise you to empower yourself with enough information like this post so that you can take charge of your oral health and safeguard your overall well-being.
Some causes of periodontal disease
We’ve talked about periodontal diseases and how painful they can be, but this article won’t be complete if we fail to discuss some of the causes. I will briefly discuss them; please take note of each of them to stand a better chance against the periodontal menace.
1.Plaque buildup:
The accumulation of bacteria and food particles on the teeth and gums is one of the major causes of these diseases. Sometimes, when we finish eating, some food particles tend to remain within the cavity areas; if left, these particles can cause infections.
2.Bacterial infection:
Accumulation of bacteria can cause inflammation and damage to your gums. You need to ensure that your oral health is good to avoid bacteria infection.
3.Poor oral hygiene:
If you are the type that doesn’t brush often, you really need to rethink. This is because inadequate brushing, flossing, and rinsing of your teeth will definitely cause periodontal disease.
4.Smoking:
I know this may not sound good if you are a smoker, but regardless, it’s a fact. Tobacco use weakens the immune system and reduces blood flow to the gums, increasing the risk of periodontal disease.
5.Hormonal changes:
This particular change is predominant among women. Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy or menopause can make your gums more prone to inflammation and infection.
6.Diabetes:
Yes, being diabetic causes a lot of problems in the human immune system; the teeth are not different, though. Poorly controlled diabetes can impair your body’s ability to fight infections, including gum infections.
7.Certain medications:
Sometimes, when we are sick, we tend to take medications that may have adverse effects on our systems. This situation is related to periodontal disease too. Some medications can reduce saliva flow. When your saliva flow is reduced, you immediately get a dry mouth, which increases the risk of gum disease.
8.Grinding or clenching teeth:
When I was younger, I had the tendency to grind my teeth. Now that I know its negative effects, I am not sure I am ever going to do that again. This is because excessive pressure on the teeth and gums can contribute to periodontal disease.
9.Poor nutrition:
Poor nutrition, of course, has general negative impacts on our immune systems; our teeth are not left alone. A diet lacking essential nutrients can weaken the immune system and make your gums more vulnerable to infection.
These factors go a long way toward increasing the risk of developing periodontal disease. I hope you monitor your nutrition to avoid these painful diseases.
10.Age:
The older we grow, the more weakened our immune system is. What this simply means is that the risk of periodontal disease increases with age, so as you get older, you really need to pay more attention to your oral health.
11.Weakened immune system:
There are some medical conditions that automatically weaken the gum, such as HIV/AIDS or cancer, and treatments like chemotherapy can compromise your immune system. These conditions increase the risk of periodontal disease.
12.Poorly fitted dental restorations:
In situations where you might have performed surgery on your teeth, there’s a possibility that ill-fitting dental crowns, bridges, or dentures can create spaces where bacteria may reside, which can cause gum inflammation.
How Long Can You Keep Your Teeth With Periodontal Disease?
Like we said earlier, periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a chronic condition that affects the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. It is caused by bacteria, leading to inflammation and infection.
If left untreated, periodontal disease can have serious consequences for your oral health. Here’s a simplified explanation of how long you can keep your teeth with periodontal disease:
1.Early stage (gingivitis):
Gingivitis is the initial stage of periodontal disease; you can call it the formulation period. During this period, it affects only the gums, and its characteristics are redness, swelling, and bleeding.
If you apply proper dental care like regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings, gingivitis can be reversed. If you treat it promptly, you can maintain your natural teeth without significant damage.
2.Moderate stage (periodontitis):
If you arrive at this stage, you have definitely ignored the gingivitis stage. If it is left untreated, it will inevitably progress to periodontitis.
Periodontitis involves the inflammation and infection of the gums as well as damage to the bone and ligaments supporting the teeth. In this stage, you may experience strong symptoms such as gum recession and bad breath. That’s not all; tooth sensitivity becomes regular, and you can end up losing your teeth at this juncture.
How severe your periodontitis is can vary; different individuals have different degrees of periodontitis.
But I can assure you that with appropriate treatment and improved oral hygiene habits, it is possible to slow down the progression and stabilize the condition.
3.Advanced stage (advanced periodontitis):
Advanced periodontitis is the most severe and painful form of periodontal disease; at this stage, the pain becomes almost unbearable.
It involves significant destruction of the gums, bones, and ligaments, inevitably leading to tooth loss. At this stage, your teeth may become very loose and need to be extracted.
Advanced periodontitis can go a long way toward impacting the lifespan of your teeth, and in some cases, extraction of severely affected teeth may be necessary.
Some factors such as oral hygiene, genetics, overall health, and access to dental care can influence the outcome at this stage. I will recommend you go for regular dental check-ups as early interventions are crucial to managing periodontal disease and preserving your teeth for as long as possible.
Some Best Practices That Can Help Improve General Oral Health:
Brush your teeth properly:
If you surely want to improve your oral health, then you need to brush your teeth more often. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, especially after meals and before going to bed. I used to brush once daily until I noticed some symptoms of Periodontal disease, I had to change my brushing structure to twice a day, believe me it works perfectly, I Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, i brush gently in circular motions and make sure i clean all tooth surfaces and along the gumline.
Floss daily:
Flossing is another right way to improve your dental health, flossing helps you remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and along your gum line where your toothbrush cannot reach. I recommend you use dental floss or icleaners to clean between your teeth at least once a day.
Use mouthwash:
Rinsing of the mouth is another effective way of improving your oral hygiene. Rinse your mouth with an antimicrobial mouthwash after you must have completed brushing and flossing. It will help you reduce plaque, freshens breath, and fights bacteria. You should choose a mouthwash that contains fluoride as it gives added protection against cavities.
Maintain a healthy diet:
If you are like myself who enjoys sugary things, I think you should have a rethink. Limit sugary and acidic foods and beverages, these things can contribute to tooth decay. Try drinking plenty of water to enable you to stay hydrated and promote your saliva production, this of course helps protect teeth.
Limit tobacco and alcohol intake:
I know Tobacco intake and alcohol consumption can be a really difficult addiction to stop, but the fact remains that Tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are harmful to oral health. They can lead to gum disease, oral cancer, tooth loss, and other dental problems. You should quit smoking or using tobacco products, you should also drink alcohol in moderation or avoid it altogether.
Visit the dentist regularly:
Now this is one area we tend to overlook. Sometimes when we get the symptoms of potential Periodontal diseases, we tend to neglect them until it gets worse. Try and schedule regular dental check-ups and cleanings with your dentist. They will assess your oral health, detect any potential issues early on, and also provide professional cleanings to remove plaque and tartar.
Protect your teeth during physical activities:
If you participate in contact sports or activities like wrestling or boxing that could pose a risk to your teeth, you should wear a mouth guard. If you wear a properly fitted mouth guard it can help you prevent dental injuries and protect your teeth, gums, lips, and jaw.
Avoid bad oral habits:
Most of us have the habit of chewing ice or biting your nails. Avoid biting your nails, chewing ice, or using your teeth as tools. These habits can lead to tooth fractures, enamel wear, etc.
Non-Surgical And Surgical Interventions For Periodontal Diseases
Once you are already diagnosed with the disease, treatment becomes a necessity. The primary goal of treatment is to control the disease, restore oral health, and prevent further tooth loss.
There are a lot of ways it can be treated. Treatment options for periodontal disease can be categorized into non-surgical and surgical interventions. We’ll briefly look at these two options and how to go about them.
Non-Surgical Interventions:
1.Oral hygiene instructions:
The first step in managing periodontal disease involves educating yourself about proper oral hygiene practices. You need to understand the importance of brushing, rinsing, etc. with regards to your dental health. Good oral hygiene helps remove plaque and bacteria that contribute to the disease.
2.Scaling and root planning:
This is another non-surgical deep cleaning procedure that’s performed by a dentist. Scaling involves removing plaque from your tooth surfaces and below your gum line. Root planning involves smoothing the tooth roots to eliminate rough areas where bacteria can accumulate.
3.Antibiotics:
In some cases, antibiotics may be prescribed to control bacterial infections. You can take them orally or apply them in the form of mouth rinses or gels. Antibiotics will definitely help eliminate bacteria.
Surgical Interventions:
1.Pocket reduction surgery
At this stage, it means the non-surgical procedure has proven ineffective. If non-surgical treatments are not sufficient to control the disease, a surgical procedure called pocket reduction surgery may be recommended.
During this procedure, the dentist folds the gum tissue, and the underlying tartar is removed. The gum tissue is then secured in a position that reduces the pocket depth; this makes it easier to maintain oral hygiene.
2.Regenerative procedures:
This procedure is for situations where the bone supporting the teeth has been damaged by periodontal disease. These procedures’ major aim is to stimulate the growth of new bone, periodontal ligament, and gum tissue. Growth factors that promote tissue regeneration are used for this procedure.
3.Soft tissue grafts:
When your gums have receded, exposing your tooth roots, a soft tissue graft may be performed. With these procedures, tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth or a donor source is used to cover the exposed roots and restore gum tissue.
4.Dental implants:
At this juncture, it’s obvious a tooth loss has occurred due to advanced periodontal disease; dental implants will be considered. Implants are artificial tooth roots that are surgically placed into your jawbone. They provide a stable foundation for replacement teeth, restoring both function and beauty to the tooth.
These treatment options aim to control periodontal disease by removing bacteria and plaque, reducing inflammation, and promoting healing. By restoring oral health, they help prevent further progression of the disease and possible tooth loss. I will advise regular follow-up visits and diligent oral hygiene practices because they are essential to maintaining the results achieved through treatment and preventing the recurrence of periodontal disease.
Conclusion
We’ve come to the end of this great article, in the cause of this post, we were able to completely discuss what Periodontal disease also known as the gum disease is all about, we talked about how the bacteria’s when left untreated can cause severe pains and toothache.
That’s not all, we reminded you that the impacts of periodontal disease extend beyond your mouth. In fact, research has linked it to systemic health conditions, that is very important for you to detect it very early and treat it. If you prioritize your oral health, you will surely reduce the risk of developing other serious health issues.
Don’t let periodontal disease silently destroy your smile and compromise your overall health. If you have been suspecting these diseases, I encourage you to take action today, armed with the knowledge gained from this article.
You should hurriedly consult with your dentist, try to adopt proper oral hygiene habits, and above all, you must stay vigilant for any signs of gum disease, don’t even waste a single minute once see any potential signs of Periodontal disease.
