The gingiva is a pink-colored tissue that is attached to the tooth roots and is adjacent to the jawbone. This tissue is capable of feeding the tooth. The unhealthy structure of the gums has many negative effects. For this reason, you should read the messages coming from your mouth correctly and visit the dentist when necessary. Conditions such as darkening of the gums, bleeding when brushing teeth or biting hard foods, bad breath; indicates different health problems. Gum treatments differ according to the level of these problems.
Gingival Diseases
Before discussing what gingival treatments are, it is useful to examine the diseases that are the subject of treatment in detail. These diseases may progress in conjunction with each other, or may develop due to genetic factors or poor oral hygiene. Harmful habits such as smoking, drugs and some serious diseases are also important triggers for the emergence of gum problems.
Dental Calculus
The remnants of the food you eat during the day cause the formation of a layer called dental plaque. Improper removal of these plaques and accumulation of residues lead to tartar formation. Tartar manifests itself as brown spots on the teeth. In some cases, it can be seen at the starting line of the gum. It is useful to get support from a specialist physician for tooth tartar removal. It is not possible to remove tartar by brushing or using threads, but after cleaning, you have a chance to prevent the formation of tartar with regular dental care. If tartar is not treated on time, it causes different gum diseases.
Gingival Recession (Periodontitis)
Gingival recession symptoms can negatively affect your oral health, as well as cause an aesthetically bad appearance. As the name suggests, in cases of this condition, the gums are pulled backwards, leaving a gap. This space is extremely suitable for the growth of bacteria. If the recession is not treated, a dangerous process begins for the tooth. At the end of the process, the tissues and bones around the tooth are damaged. For this reason, the tooth is irreversibly damaged and must be extracted. Periodontitis is classified as intermediate and advanced according to the developmental status of the disease. The gingival treatments to be applied also vary depending on this classification.
How Are Gum Diseases Treated?
Regular physician control is essential for the timely treatment of gum diseases. Problems such as bleeding gums, bad breath; It is considered normal by most people and does not feel the need to take any precautions or consult a dentist. For this reason, they help the problem reach serious dimensions without realizing it. If gingival disease is detected at the initial stage in regular examinations, it can be eliminated with correct oral hygiene practices.
Intermediate Periodontitis
Bacteria that progress to a depth of about 4-6 mm cause swelling and bleeding in the gums. Curettage is performed in such cases of periodontitis that reach the middle level because it is not noticed. The main difference of this process from tartar cleaning is that it is done at deep points, not on the surface. Local anesthesia is applied during curettage when necessary. Pain and suffering do not arise. In some cases, it may not be possible to complete the entire cleaning at once. Therefore, more than one session is performed. It is normal to experience sensitivity in the teeth for a few days after the procedure. Not smoking or drinking alcohol for 48 hours after the procedure contributes positively to recovery. At the same time, the consumption of cold drinks should be avoided in order not to increase the sensitivity that will occur the day after the curettage. The complaint of sensitivity will pass within a week at the latest.
How is Post-Curettage Care Performed?
Those who have a dental curettage should use the desensitizing drugs given by the physician. You can also get relief by gargling with salt water. It is useful not to tire the curettage side for a while and not to include it in the chewing process as much as possible. On the first day, the toothbrush should be used with soft movements; Routine cleaning should be continued in the following days.
Advanced Periodontitis (Advanced Gum Disease)
The progression of gum disease requires the application of surgical methods. The type of surgical procedure to be performed is decided with the help of detailed physician examination and dental imaging methods.
Flap Operation
In the flap operation, a small incision is made in the problem area and the tooth and gum are separated from each other. With the removal of the incision, access to the tissues that need to be treated becomes easier. After cleaning the tissue or tooth root where the inflammation occurs, antibiotic treatment is applied if deemed necessary by the physician. In the last stage, the opened incision is closed.
Artificial Bone Grafts
Gum diseases also cause bone damage over time. In such cases, artificial bone grafts are used during the flap operation. With the grafts obtained from many different sources and in powder form, the damaged bone is repaired and its functions are maintained.
Tooth Extraction in Advanced Gum Diseases
Infections accumulating in periodontal pockets cause the tooth to loosen over time. As a result of the shaking that occurs as a result of the destruction of the supporting tissues, the tooth must be extracted. You can get information about whether you can benefit from missing tooth treatments by meeting with your doctor after your tooth has been extracted.
Things to Consider in addition to Gingival Treatments
There is a strong relationship between gum disease and not paying attention to your individual oral care. When it comes to oral care in Turkey, generally only brushing is understood, but supporting elements such as using dental floss and rinsing the mouth with mouthwash should not be forgotten. Choosing the right product for your tooth’s needs is also important here. You can perform oral care more effectively by choosing a brush suitable for tooth structure and a paste rich in content.
Regular Tooth Brushing
Experts generally state that teeth should be brushed twice a day. Brushing during the day, after breakfast and before going to bed at night, is sufficient to remove all residues. In between meals, thanks to the thorough rinsing of the mouth, the residues do not cause plaque formation. Improper brushing causes gum disease. If the hard and wrong brushing process is repeated continuously, gum recession is seen. For this reason, teeth should be brushed from top to bottom in order not to leave food residue in between. At the last stage, the bacteria on the tongue should be destroyed by using a tongue cleaner.
Floss Cleaning
Sometimes, even if you brush your teeth regularly, food residues in between can cause tartar formation over time. For this reason, you can completely clean the food residues by using dental floss. Dental floss is used after brushing. You should use the clean part of the floss on each tooth so that the residues that adhere to the floss do not get back into your teeth.
Use of Mouthwash
In addition to gum treatments, the use of mouthwash also helps you to alleviate your problems. Your breath will always be fresher with mouthwashes, which are advantageous in terms of eliminating bad breath, killing bacteria and providing permanent hygiene. You should also gargle after brushing your teeth. It is written on the package how many seconds you should keep the mouthwash in your mouth. You should be careful not to exceed this period and you should never swallow the solution.
You can visit the DentaVina Clinic in Suadiye after making your appointment to get support for gum diseases. Contact us without delay to protect your dental health.