Hey there, viewers! Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth?
Are your gums pulling away from your teeth? If left untreated, this can get bad really fast.
In today’s video, we’ll be talking about periodontitis (pare-ee-ah-don-tight-iss). What
is it exactly? What are the stages? How is it different from gingivitis?
What are its symptoms? We’ll be discussing all of these AND more...
What is Periodontitis? Periodontitis is an infection in your gums. This
is usually due to bacteria that has collected in your teeth. If you leave periodontitis untreated,
the infection will spread. But, if you catch it early, you can avoid serious damage. Of course,
this also means you need to maintain good oral hygiene to avoid getting the infection again.
Do you brush and floss twice a day? What does your daily oral care routine look like?
Share your experiences with the Bestie community in the comments below.
Stages of periodontitis
1. Inflammation (gingivitis) The first stage of periodontitis
sees the gums becoming inflamed. This is known as gingivitis. How do you know you have gingivitis,
though? The first sign is your gums bleeding when you brush, or floss.
Along with the blood, you will also see discoloration in your teeth. This is called
plaque. The reason you have plaque is because of food and bacteria building up in your teeth.
You might think “oh well” since bacteria are always in the mouth anyway. Well you’re right
about that, but letting it increase is a recipe for disaster. This usually happens when you don’t
brush properly, or floss regularly. 2. Early periodontal disease
After gingivitis, you will go through the early stages of periodontal disease. With this, you’ll
see your gums receding. What this means is there will be small gaps between your gums and teeth.
These gaps, or “pockets” as they’re referred to, become a place for harmful bacteria to grow.
During this time, your immune system will try and fight off the infection.
You will continue to see blood while you’re brushing, and maybe even some bone loss.
3. Moderate periodontal disease
If left untreated, you will continue to bleed, while now feeling pain around your teeth. After a
while, your teeth will start feeling loose. This is because they lose the support of the bone.
As a result of the infection, there may be inflammatory responses in the rest of your body.
4. Advanced periodontal disease Now we’re getting into the advanced
stages. If you let the disease takeover, you will see the tissue that connects your teeth start
to deteriorate. The gums, bones and tissue that support your teeth will start to fall off as well.
When you have the advanced stage of the disease, you may not even be able to chew your food
because of the severe pain you’ll experience. This could result in you losing your teeth.
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Symptoms There are a few symptoms you can look
out for in the case of periodontitis. As I said a minute ago, your gums will start bleeding when you
brush your teeth or floss. You will also notice your teeth slightly changing their positions.
Bad breath can also be a sign of periodontitis. If your gums are receding, swollen and red,
periodontitis is probably why. Plaque and tartar on your teeth are more
symptoms. If you’re feeling pain while chewing, or have a foul taste in your mouth, you need to check
with your dentist for periodontitis. Causes
The biggest cause for periodontitis is bad oral hygiene. The disease is common among
people who don’t brush properly, especially the parts of the mouth that are hard to reach.
When you don’t make the effort to clean your teeth in hard-to-reach places, bacteria will multiply
and form plaque. A buildup of plaque, if not brushed off every morning, will result in tartar.
Tartar is when minerals are deposited on your plaque. This allows more bacterial growth,
and will spread towards your tooth’s root. Because of this,
your body’s immune system will try to fight it off, resulting in inflammation of your gums.
After a while, you’ll start seeing those gross pockets we mentioned earlier.
Harmful bacteria will take their place in these pockets, and release toxins
that will damage your teeth and gums. There are other things that can increase
the chances of periodontitis. If you’re a heavy smoker, you’re more than likely going
to suffer with periodontitis. This is actually one of the main causes.
People suffering with obesity and type-2 diabetes also tend to have this disease.
In the case of women, hormonal changes related to menstruation and menopause can weaken your gums.
Diseases that impact your immune system, such as HIV and leukemia, could also end up causing
periodontitis. If you’re taking medication that reduces the flow of saliva in your mouth,
you should also count this as a reason. Poor nutrition can also lead to periodontitis,
especially if you’re missing vitamin C. Genetics also play an important role.
Before we move ahead, here’s another video you might like. Strong immunity is essential
for fighting off infections. Here’s a video that talks about different ways to boost your immunity
naturally. Watch and learn. Treatment
1. Oral hygiene practices To treat periodontitis,
your dentist will instruct you on how to properly brush and floss. The dentist will also suggest
other oral care products like mouthwash. Just so we’re clear, you need to brush
twice a day, with fluoride toothpaste. An electric toothbrush is also a smart option.
Remember to brush for a whole two minutes. It makes no sense to brush for a few seconds,
and think you’ve taken care of all the harmful bacteria on your teeth.
You also need to floss at least once a day. If you can avoid smoking or chewing tobacco,
that goes a long way to help your teeth. Drinking a lot of soda can also be bad for your teeth.
Experts say drinking soda can potentially lead to cavities and visible tooth decay.
If you just can’t resist a Coke, use a straw. This keeps acid and sugar away from your teeth.
It’s also important you visit your dentist at least two times a year so
they can professionally clean your teeth. Actually, this deserves its own entry.
2. Professional cleanings When you get a cleaning done by a dentist,
they remove all the plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth, as well as the roots. They then
polish the teeth and give you fluoride treatment. During a procleaning, special care will be taken
to flush bacteria out from any pockets that may have already formed between the gum and teeth.
There’s a specific deep-cleaning method called scaling and root planing. This
removes all the plaque, as well as any rough spots that might collect harmful bacteria.
3. Antibiotics If you have a gum infection, your dentist
may have to prescribe antibiotics to treat it. This is usually done if your gums don’t respond to
cleaning, and continue to suffer inflammation. 4. Surgery
Worst case scenario, you’ll have to get surgery. This is a step usually taken when all others,
including professional cleaning and antibiotics, aren’t removing the pockets in your teeth.
If the inflammation remains in places you can’t easily access through brushing or flossing,
the dentist will look at surgery as your next best option.
You will have to undergo what’s called a flap surgery. This is where the deposits
under your gums are removed. You will be given anesthesia, before the roots of your
teeth are cleaned by lifting away the gums. The gums are then stitched back into place.
Periodontitis can be prevented if you take good care of your teeth. There are certain things you
can do to make sure your smile remains healthy and beautiful. Did you know scientists have discovered
a drug that fixes cavities? You can also follow certain instructions to strengthen your teeth.
Here’s what you need to know... Watch 11 Ways To Make Your Teeth Stronger.
You can also try our video on The Drug That Fixes Cavities & Regrows Teeth.
Go ahead, click one. Or better yet, watch both,
and learn more about oral health care. Did you know about periodontitis before watching
this video? Did you ever struggle with this disease? Let us know in the comments below!