Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Get Started with Periodontitis
• Part 2 of 3: Treating periodontitis at home
• Part 3 of 3: More radical treatments for periodontitis

Periodontitis is a serious bacterial infection of the gums and, if not properly treated, ultimately leads to destruction of the gums, the tissues that bind the teeth and the bones that support the teeth, leading to tooth loss. In addition, periodontitis can cause problems throughout the body, for example, it is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as the development of other serious diseases. Fortunately, periodontitis is usually treatable and controlled to prevent severe forms of the disease. Although you should take care of your gums at home to prevent gum disease, if you have periodontitis, you should see your dentist or periodontist so that the doctor can diagnose the disease and perform a special deep cleaning of the oral cavity. Thereafter, the condition can often be treated with careful home oral care and regular dental check-ups, but sometimes additional medical treatment may be required.

Attention:the information in this article is for informational purposes only. Before using any methods, consult your doctor.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Get Started with Periodontitis

1. 1 Visit your dentist for a checkup. The doctor will examine your teeth and gums, take an X-ray, and assess the extent of the disease based on the depth of your periodontal pocket. After that, he will set a date for the deep cleaning and give recommendations for oral care at home before your next visit. You should strictly follow the doctor's instructions.
   • Your dentist may also refer you to a periodontist, a specialist in gum and other periodontal tissue diseases.
2. 2 Do a deep cleaning of your teeth and gums. During deep cleaning, the doctor scrapes off plaque and tartar from the teeth and roots. Scraping and sonication allows you to clean your teeth both above and below the gum line. In addition, the dentist will clean the roots of the teeth from bacteria (he can use a laser). This will sterilize the areas covered by the gums, but this procedure is quite difficult to control the laser.
   • Although many are afraid of deep cleaning, remember that this extremely an important first-line procedure for treating serious illnesses that most people tolerate quite well.
   • Many dentists offer different types of anesthesia before deep cleaning, from applying anesthetic gel to the gums to injections of anesthetic, using nitrous oxide, and in some cases complete anesthesia. If you are nervous, inform your doctor in advance, and also let him know if you experience pain or discomfort during the procedure.
3. 3 Take your medications as prescribed by your doctor. Your dentist or periodontist may decide that antibiotics are needed to treat periodontitis. After brushing the roots, the doctor may place antibiotic plates in the pockets of the gums, which then slowly dissolve and destroy the bacteria in the local area without affecting the entire body. Your dentist may also prescribe one or more of the following: oral antibiotics, a prescription antibacterial mouthwash, or an antibacterial cream to be applied to your gums daily. Use the prescribed drugs as directed by your doctor.
4. 4 Make an appointment for your next appointment. After deep brushing, you will need to visit your dentist more often to measure periodontal pockets and see if they heal. If the condition of the gums does not improve sufficiently, the doctor will recommend further treatment.
   • The dentist will likely schedule a follow-up appointment one month after deep brushing and then recommend additional check-ups every three months until the disease subsides.

Part 2 of 3: Treating periodontitis at home

1. 1 Floss your teeth at least once a day. Cut off a piece of dental floss that is about 50 centimeters long. Wind the thread around your middle fingers so that there are 3-5 centimeters between them. Thread the floss between your two teeth and run it up and down and back and forth several times. Be aware that plaque and food can get stuck under the gum line, from where they can be removed with floss. Wrap the floss around each tooth and pull it as far as possible to the gums so that it does not cause discomfort. Do the same with the next tooth, while moving to a new section of the floss, as it gets dirty and worn out. Threading between two teeth should help clean both surfaces of adjacent teeth. After you practice a little, the whole process will take 2-3 minutes a day.
   • If you are unsure if flossing your teeth properly, check with your dentist at your next visit.
2. 2 Brush your teeth with a soft bristle brush 2-3 times a day. When doing this, brush your teeth for at least two minutes and pay special attention to the gum line. While any toothbrush can be used, electric brushes are most effective. Remember to also use fluoride toothpaste.
   • Because periodontitis is a bacterial infection, some dentists recommend using toothpastes with the antibacterial ingredient triclosan, such as Colgate Total.
3. 3 Wash your gums daily. If possible, get an irrigator like Water Pik or Hydro Floss and use it twice a day. Although these devices can be quite expensive, they are very useful in the treatment of periodontitis and help to clean not only the gums but also the teeth.
   • An oral irrigator lasts up to several years, it perfectly massages the gums, removes plaque and cleans dental implants.
4. 4 Rinse your mouth with antimicrobial agent 2-3 times a day. This will help reduce bacteria in the mouth and prevent infection. If your dentist prescribes a prescription for you, use it or purchase an over-the-counter mouthwash. Be sure to read the label and choose an antimicrobial agent.
   • You can also put mouthwash into an irrigator and pressurize your gums and teeth.
   • Note that some prescription antibacterial oral fluids may discolor teeth if used for more than two weeks, although teeth regain their color with the next rinse.
5. 5 Use an antibacterial gel as directed by your doctor. Your dentist or periodontist may prescribe an antibacterial gel to be applied to your gums twice daily after using a brush, floss, or irrigator. This gel kills bacteria and helps control periodontal infection.
6. 6 Take all oral antibiotics your dentist or periodontist prescribes. These antibiotics can help treat periodontal infections and prevent new bacteria from becoming infected, especially after surgery. Take them as directed by your doctor.

Part 3 of 3: More radical treatments for periodontitis

1. 1 Get surgery if necessary. In severe cases, periodontitis is treated surgically.The main surgical technique is flap surgery, in which a dentist or periodontist makes an incision in the gum and pulls it off to remove calculus, infected bone, and the necrotic cementum underneath. After that, the gingival flap is sutured back.
   • In flap surgery, oxygen penetrating under the gums helps to destroy a large number of aggressive anaerobic bacteria, which are almost impossible to remove even with deep cleaning.
2. 2 Get a gum transplant and bone grafts. In severe cases, palatal gum transplants or AlloDerm synthetic membrane transplants may be required to replace damaged gum tissue, as well as bone grafts or regeneration surgery to replace lost bone tissue. The goal of these methods is to prevent further tooth loss and stop the development of periodontitis, which can lead to permanent damage.
3. 3 Learn about laser therapy. Recent studies have shown that, in some cases, laser surgery can be as effective as surgery for treating periodontitis. Ask your dentist or periodontist if this method is right for you, but keep in mind that this is a fast-growing area and many insurance companies do not pay for this type of treatment.
4. 4 Consider getting dental implants. Sometimes periodontitis can result in the loss of one or more teeth. In such cases, it is possible to replace the lost teeth with high quality dental implants. Check with your dentist or periodontist to find out if dental implants are right for you, given your medical history and other possible health concerns.