Gum diseases occur when the soft tissue surrounding the teeth becomes infected as a result of meeting with bacteria. Gum disease is also known as periodontology and deals with the surrounding tissues of the teeth. Inflammation can occur in the surrounding tissues of the teeth for various reasons. These diseases, which can be defined as gum diseases, can happen to individuals of all ages.
What are Gum Diseases?
There are tissues that surround, support and protect your teeth. These tissues can be examined in two different groups as soft and hard. Soft tissues can be explained as gingiva and periodantal ligament. Hard tissues are structures such as cement and bone. Disturbances occurring in all these tissues are included in the field of periodontology. Periodontal diseases are responsible for approximately 70% of tooth loss in adults. If these diseases are diagnosed early and the right treatment is started at the right time, recovery is observed in a short time. If the right treatment is not applied, problems such as loosening, bleeding and sensitivity in the teeth may come to light. Infections in the tissues, which are seen in the elderly, children and adults, even though there is no caries in the teeth, can also cause bad breath.
The gums form the infrastructure of the teeth and the healthy gum color is between dry rose and pink. When the health of your gums deteriorates, discoloration can also be observed. If your gum color has turned an intense red or a blue-violet color, you may suspect periodontal disease. There are various tissues around your teeth, including the jawbone, gums, and periodantal fibers that connect the teeth and jawbone. Gum diseases may differ according to the tissue affected by the infection.
- Gingivitis (Gingivitis)
In gingivitis, the only tissue affected by the infection is the gum. If your gums are more red and swollen than normal, you may suspect gingivitis if there is a bleeding appearance. At this stage, it is possible to talk about bad breath. Even if gingivitis does not cause much discomfort in the early stages, it can lead to the development of periodontitis in the future. At the same time, untreated gingivitis can cause damage to the alveolar bone that supports the teeth, which is difficult to reverse. Thanks to early diagnosis and correct treatment, gingivitis is eliminated and the gums heal in a short time. Another sign of gingivitis is when your gums bleed while brushing your teeth. If your gums bleed frequently while brushing your teeth, you should definitely see a dentist. In some cases, bleeding in the gums may occur due to incorrect or hard brushing, but the recurrence of this situation may be a sign of a disease.
- Periodontisis
It occurs as a result of damage to the gums and other tissues surrounding the teeth in periodontitis disease, which is the advanced stage of gingival disease. In this disease, a space called a periodontal pocket is formed between the tooth and the gingiva. Infection settles in this pocket and progression of the disease becomes inevitable. If left untreated, the infection progresses in the periodontal pocket and spreads to other supporting tissues. As a result, the tissues that support the teeth may be lost and the teeth may begin to wobble. If the disease is not treated on time, patients may lose their teeth.
What Causes Gum Diseases?
The main cause of gum disease is bacterial plaque. Also known as microbial dental plaque, the layer formed by the combination of bacteria from saliva and food residues that cannot be cleaned can cause gingival disorders. This layer accumulates in the tissues around the teeth, leading to the onset of periodontal diseases. Microbial dental plaques, which can be detected with regular controls, can be cleaned by dentists. Apart from dental plaques, other factors that cause gum diseases are as follows:
- Cigaret
Smoking, which has many harmful effects on health, also increases the likelihood of periodontal diseases. In addition, some chemicals in cigarettes and the heat effect of cigarettes can mask the symptoms of gingivitis. So if you smoke and have gingivitis, you may not show any symptoms. For example; your gums do not bleed and you may notice your gingivitis much later than necessary.
- Special Periods
During special periods such as menopause, puberty and pregnancy, the body may react differently due to hormonal changes. Changes in hormones can also affect the gums, and the tissues surrounding the teeth may react to microorganisms. In such special periods, extra attention should be paid to tooth cleaning in order to prevent gum diseases and dental floss should be used regularly in order to prevent bacterial plaque.
- Systemic Disorders
Diseases that affect the immune system such as AIDS and leukemia can make the gums more sensitive as they make people more susceptible to infections. Since it is very difficult to control and treat gingivitis in people with disorders that degenerate the body’s defense system, patients should act more carefully and definitely continue on their way with a specialist dentist.
Gum disease can also be seen in people with diabetes. Uncontrolled diabetes patients may experience dryness, burning and loss of tongue papillae in their mouths. For this reason, the rate of development of gingival infections and the destruction caused by the infection may be high in patients with diabetes.
How Are Gum Diseases Treated?
The treatment of gum diseases is shaped according to the stage of the disease, the course of the disease and the tissues affected by the infection. The main purpose in the treatment of gingival diseases is to remove the bacteria causing the infection. In order to remove bacteria, plaque can be cleaned or calculus can be cleaned with ultrasonic devices.
In the first stage of gingival diseases, surgical procedures are usually not required. After cleaning the tooth and root surface, the polishing process is applied to remove the existing stains on the teeth and to smooth the tooth surface. In some cases, wisdom teeth and caries, which cause the accumulation of harmful microorganisms, are removed and the treatment is continued. After the patient’s mouth is purified from harmful bacteria, oral hygiene is given to ensure oral hygiene and the patient’s oral care is ensured correctly. If the gum disease is advanced, surgical intervention is performed.
What are the Symptoms of Gum Diseases?
One of the most important symptoms of gum disease is bleeding gums. If your gums bleed frequently when you brush your teeth or eat, you may suspect a disease. Other than bleeding gums, the symptoms of gum disease are:
- Red, swollen and tender gums
- Bad breath
- recession in gums
- Gums that can be easily separated from the teeth
- Teeth wobbly or gradually moving away from each other
- If there is already a gap between the teeth, these gaps are opened or new gaps are formed between the teeth.
- Change of teeth, change in relations between upper and lower teeth during biting
What Causes Gum Diseases If Untreated?
If gum diseases are not treated, infection may spread in the mouth and tooth loss may occur. If you suspect gingivitis, you should go to a specialist dentist without delay and start the treatment process.
What are the Prices of Gum Diseases Treatment?
Treatment fees for gum diseases may vary depending on the course of the disease, the extent of the disease, and the tissues affected by the infection. You can get detailed information about the treatment process and prices by talking to your doctor. You can contact Klinik 34 to get detailed information about gingival treatment, to learn about treatment programs specific to you in the company of specialist doctors, and to get price information.