Gum Disease

Gum disease (periodontal disease) is inflammation of the gums as a result of inadequate oral and dental hygiene. There is a possibility that the disease may progress to the bone that supports the teeth. As a result, the patient may face conditions such as loosening of the teeth, falling out, or extraction of the tooth.

The main cause of gum disease is the increase of bacteria in the sticky and colorless plaque (biofilm) that regularly forms on the teeth and gums. If the person does not brush and floss their teeth regularly, these plaques accumulate on the teeth and gums.

Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease

A healthy, natural, and esthetic gum should be light pink. If the person cannot adequately care for the mouth, the gums become inflamed with the effect of multiplying bacteria. Depending on this, enlargement or swelling of the gum may occur. Gum disease can occur at any age. However, it is mostly seen in adults.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should visit your dentist as soon as possible:
– Red, swollen, or tender gums,
– Bleeding of the gums while brushing or flossing,
– Teeth that appear longer due to gingival recession,
– Changes in tooth alignment when the mouth is closed,
– Inflammation between teeth and gums,
– Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth.

Causes and Risk Factors

Gum disease has many causes. The most common cause is neglected dental and oral care. Tobacco use, dental calculus, malnutrition, alcohol consumption, incompatible dentures and dental fillings, stress, hereditary factors, diabetes, vitamin deficiency, conditions affecting the immune system, hormonal reasons, and some medications may also be the causes of gum disease. Let’s take a look at the most common of these reasons.

Tobacco Use

Smoking is one of the important risk factors for gum disease. The incidence of periodontal disease in smokers is 4 times higher than in non-smokers. Other tobacco products (cigars, pipes, hookahs) also adversely affect the gums and surrounding tissues.

Almost half of the people with gum disease are smokers and one in ten are people who have quit smoking. Smoking also has negative side effects on the treatment of gum disease.

The risk in smokers is lower than in smokers and higher than in non-smokers. However, the risk decreases with the increase of the non-smoking period. For this reason, quitting smoking is important in terms of reducing the severity of gum diseases and more positive results of treatment.

After quitting smoking, microorganisms in the mouth become less pathogenic. Because at this time, gingival vascularity and immune response begin to improve. For this reason, smoking cessation programs are as important as clinical sessions of gum disease treatment.

Drugs

Some epilepsy and anti-hypertension drugs, some cancer drugs, birth control pills, and antidepressants can cause gingival enlargement. This causes some gum problems. In this case, if the patient using the drug cannot clean the mouth adequately, redness, pain, and bleeding are seen in the mouth.

Oral birth control pills, also known as contraceptives, are steroidal drugs containing estrogen and progesterone. These drugs increase gingival sensitivity by causing hormonal changes in the body. This triggers the disease.

Studies have shown that differences in the levels of sex hormones increase the inflammation of the gums. This is the reason why gingivitis is more common in women during pregnancy. Birth control drugs also have the same effect, as they cause changes in hormone levels.

Systemic Diseases

There is a reciprocal relationship between gum disease and systemic (whole-body) diseases. It can trigger rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, kidney and heart diseases. At the same time, many systemic diseases can be a risk factor for gum disease.

Bacteria and bacterial products originating from the gums can spread throughout the body through circulation. Sepsis or septicemia, which manifests itself in the presence of bacteria in the blood, is an example. In this respect, inflammation of the gums and the resulting immune response negatively affect our entire body.

Studies show that systemic inflammation resulting from inflammation of the gums caused by microbes is a risk factor for lung diseases, intestinal diseases, and chronic kidney diseases. There is growing evidence of an association between gum disease and pregnancy complications, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and heart diseases.

Systemic diseases themselves also negatively affect the gums. The most obvious example of the link between systemic inflammation and gum disease is diabetes. Because we know that gum disease is a complication of diabetes. Blood diseases and infectious diseases of the body can also aggravate the inflammation of the gums.

Stages of Gum Disease

Gingivitis

Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) is the earliest stage of gum disease. This disease occurs as a result of plaque accumulation in the gum line. Not brushing the teeth regularly, not using dental floss and toxins that will irritate the gums can cause gingivitis. At this stage, the gums may bleed while brushing and flossing. The bone and ligaments holding the tooth are not affected yet.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that destroys the fibers that connect the tooth to the bone and the jawbone that supports the tooth. At this stage, inflammation irreversibly damages the supporting bone and ligaments holding the teeth.

The microorganisms in the mouth initiate periodontitis. In periodontitis, a pocket begins to form below the gum line, between the tooth and the gum, holding the plaque. A patient can prevent the progression of the damage with treatment and oral and dental care continued at home.

Advanced Periodontitis

Advanced periodontitis is the final stage of gum disease. The disease severely damages fibers and bones that support the teeth. In this stage, the person’s teeth are shaken, and the way of biting changes. If the teeth cannot be saved with intensive treatments, the dentist may have to remove these teeth.

Treatment

In the treatment of gum disease, the first step is to clean and care for the mouth. Various effective oral care products (eg, ADA approved; Parodontax Anti-Gingivitis Toothpaste, RADIUS Source Brush Medium Manual Toothbrush, Oral-B iO Series 9 Powered Toothbrush, CloSYS Ultra Sensitive Mouthwash, etc.) are available for this purpose.

However, if the elimination of the main cause (systemic disease, factor, or condition) is not possible, there is a high probability of recurrence of the treated gum disease. In this respect, the patient should also comply with the treatments recommended by the dentist.

The same is true for gums that are enlarged and inflamed due to medications or other reasons. In drug-induced gingival enlargement, the person must either discontinue the drug or change it. The gingival enlargement that does not improve despite all the treatments needs surgical removal. Thus, the progression of the disease is stopped.

Treating Gum Disease at Home

There are also many homemade remedies for gum disease. One of the treatments you can apply at home is a saltwater gargle. Saltwater reduces swelling of the gums, bleeding gums, and swelling caused by infection.

Lemon is also a powerful cleanser. Mix two to three drops of lemon essential oil into a glass of water. Then gargle with it and spit. Apart from that, we can apply the gel obtained from the aloe vera plant to the teeth and gums. After waiting for 2-3 minutes, the mouth is rinsed with warm water.

Prevention

To prevent gum disease, the patient must have adequate oral hygiene. In particular, it is necessary to regularly remove dental plaque by brushing. It will also be beneficial for the patient to visit the dentist regularly. Because with early diagnosis and correct treatment, we can prevent that disease.