Gum disease is a bacterial infection of the gum tissue, it is a serious
condition that starts as gingivitis and can progress to periodontitis .
According to the British Dental Health Foundation "19 out of 20 people
suffer from gum disease (gingivitis) at some point in their life making
it the most common disease in the world
During a typical checkup your dentist or dental hygienist will remove
the plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline of all your
teeth. If you have some signs of gingivitis, your dentist may recommend
that you return for future cleanings more often than twice a year. Your
dentist may also recommend that you use a toothpaste or mouth rinse that
is FDA-approved for fighting gingivitis
The gum infection treatment for a gum ball, the patient is numbed and
the gum boil is cleaned out and drained of pus. An antibiotic chip is
placed in the remaining pocket and the patient is given a Tetracycline
500mg prescription to take for a week. This causes swelling and the
opposing tooth starts biting down into the swollen gums. In most cases
with Pericornitis, the patient is placed on Keflex 500 mg for three to
seven days and the wisdom tooth is removed
Prevent gum disease by flossing between your teeth each day to remove
plaque from areas in your mouth that the toothbrush can't reach. To
prevent gum disease, avoid smoking and using tobacco, limit sweets and
sugary foods to meal times, and drink lots of water to keep yourself
well-hydrated. Avoiding frequent intake of acidic black cola type soft
drinks will also help to prevent gum disease
Flossing removes food particles from between and around your teeth,
including debris that has gotten wedged into the gum. You may not be
able to see these particles, but flossing can expose and get rid of
them, reducing gum inflammation and eventual infection. Use an
eighteen-inch piece of dental floss, with the ends wrapped around each
forefinger and grasped by the thumbs. Push it up and down between teeth,
moving along the length of the floss for a clean section each time you
clean another tooth
Use a mouth rinse. An antimicrobial mouth rinse can provide extra help
in controlling plaque. Listerine is a good choice and has been approved
by the American Dental Association
Medications may be used with treatment that includes scaling and root
planing, but they cannot always take the place of surgery. Depending on
the severity of gum disease, the dentist or periodontist may still
suggest surgical treatment. Long-term studies will be needed to
determine whether using medications reduces the need for surgery and
whether they are effective over a long period of time
Osseous (bone) surgery sometimes accompanies flap surgery. In osseous
surgery, some of the bone around the tooth is reshaped. In certain
cases, a bone area may be employed to replace lost bone. Splints or
other appliances may be used to stabilize loose teeth temporarily and
may be necessary after completion of periodontal therapy as well
Chlorhexidine is a commonly used antiseptic mouthwash. You should rinse
your mouth well with water between brushing your teeth and using
chlorhexidine. This is because some ingredients in toothpaste can
inactivate chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine may also stain teeth brown when
used regularly
