What is periodontology?
Periodontology is a part of dentistry that diagnoses and treats soft and hard tissue diseases surrounding the teeth. Periodontology’s treatment includes gingival recessions, gingivitis, gingival enlargement, scaling, early or late periodontal diseases.
Symptoms of gum disease
First of all, it should be noted that healthy gingiva is light pink in color. It is firmly adhered to the tooth and bone, and has a shiny – grainy appearance similar to an orange peel. However:
If there is bleeding in the gums,
If swelling and redness are seen in the gums,
If there is recession in the gingiva and sensitivity on the exposed root surfaces,
If black areas are seen on the edge of the gingiva or between the teeth due to tartar,
If there is inflammation between the tooth and gingiva,
If the teeth are wobbly, elongated and there are openings between the teeth,
If there is a bad smell or taste sensation in the mouth, you should be examined by a dentist and start your treatment before it is too late.
What are the factors that cause gum disease?
While the main cause of periodontal diseases is bacterial plaque, other factors can also affect the health of your gums.
Uncontrolled diets and poor nutrition can weaken the immune system and weaken the body’s resistance to infections. An infection that will occur in the gums during this period will also be a factor in prolonging the treatment period.
Apart from stress, AIDS and cancer types can be effective on the body’s immune system and can cause the development of gum diseases.
Another patient profile that is open to gum diseases is tobacco users. The fact that tobacco and tobacco products irritate the gums and cause deterioration in the firmness of the gums facilitates the development of infection in the areas of irritation.
The most difficult patient group to control gum disease is diabetes (diabetes) patients. It is the patient group with the highest probability of developing gum disease.
Hormone changes during pregnancy cause the gums to become redder and more susceptible to bacterial plaque. Hormonal changes during menopause and menstruation can also cause gum sensitivity and predispose to gum disease.
Those with teeth clenching or grinding problems are in the risk group. They cause periodontal tissue destruction by causing a decrease in the force between the tooth and gingiva, and this tightening should be stopped by attaching a night plaque.
The drugs used can cause gum diseases. Birth control pills, antidepressants, and some heart medications can affect your oral health.
How can we protect ourselves from gum disease?
To protect teeth and gums, it is necessary to brush the teeth regularly every day, to clean the food residues between the teeth by using dental floss and to remove the bacteria in the mouth with the use of mouthwash.
The fact that daily routine care with tooth brushing and dental floss cannot completely prevent the formation of tartar necessitates periodic dental examinations.
Teeth cleaning to be done by the dentist; It prevents infections that will occur in the gums by removing the hardened tartar in the areas that you cannot clean with toothbrush and dental floss.
Who Performs Periodontal Treatments?
All dentists can identify periodontal diseases and treat early periodontal diseases. Some dentists, on the other hand, have additional knowledge and experience to treat advanced periodontal diseases, they are specialized in this field. Dentists with this knowledge are called periodontists. The dentist believes that the disease should be treated by a specialist if necessary and may send the patient to a periodontist. Along with the treatment of periodontal diseases, regular brushing of your teeth and regular dentist visits can maintain healthy teeth for life.