Periodontology
It is a field of odontology that prevents, diagnoses, and treats illnesses of the teeth’s protective and supporting tissue, meaning the gum, periodontal ligament, root cement, and alveolar bone.
Depending on the gravity of the periodontal problem, this can be classified as gingivitis or periodontitis.
The periodontal illness manifests itself as Gingivitis (inflation and bleeding of the gum without affecting the bone) or Periodontitis, where a destruction of the bone supporting the tooth occurs. If it is not treated in time, it can cause the loss of teeth.
Causes
The main cause of periodontal disease is the presence of a bacterial plaque, which is the accumulation of living bacteria and food waste that are deposited on the teeth when good oral hygiene is not conducted.
There are other factors that can worsen the symptoms, like smoking, stress, some medication, hormonal changes (pregnant women), diabetes, and other complications that affect the organism’s defense system.
Symptoms
The person with periodontal problems hardly feels pain.
The main symptoms are:
-Bleeding when brushing the teeth or flossing.
-Red and/or swollen gums.
-Soft teeth or changing positions.
-Constant bad breath or bad taste in the mouth.
Treatment
A periodontal treatment encompasses from the correction of hygiene technique for the control of the bacterial plaque, to the elimination of its triggering factors (dental calculations or plaque and periodontal bags) with techniques such as scaling, surgical procedures, among others.
Prevention
Preventing this disease is very easy! It is enough with brushing the right way every day and always flossing. Regular visits to the dentist will help to prevent this and other oral diseases.
