Periodontitis is an oral disease that occurs due to many causes. If left untreated for a long time, it can not only have a dangerous effect on oral health but also increase the risk of other diseases in the body. However, mild periodontitis can be completely treated at home effectively with some folk ingredients. If the case of periodontitis is severe, the support of a doctor is needed for a complete treatment.
1. What is periodontitis?
Periodontitis is an oral disease in which the tissues surrounding the teeth and tooth roots become inflamed, swollen and red. Over time, bacteria will spread to surrounding areas, destroying the tooth support structures in the jawbone.
2. Causes of periodontitis
Periodontitis originates from the following common causes:
2.1. Poor hygiene
Regular and proper daily oral hygiene is essential to remove plaque on the teeth and prevent the formation of bacteria in the oral cavity. Poor oral hygiene is an opportunity for bacteria to grow, leading to periodontitis.
2.2. Unreasonable diet
It is very important for the body to supplement adequate nutrients from meals. When the body lacks nutrients, it leads to poor resistance and is not strong enough to fight off bacteria that cause inflammation.
2.3. Vitamin C deficiency
Vitamin C is a very necessary and important substance if you want to prevent and avoid oral diseases effectively.
3. Signs of periodontitis
At each stage, periodontitis will have different symptoms:
3.1. Early stage
The mouth begins to ache, the gums become swollen and can easily bleed when brushing, eating or when there is force. The feeling of restlessness at the base of the tooth makes the patient uncomfortable and the mouth will have a bad smell.
3.2. After a while
The disease will gradually become more severe. At this time, the gums around the teeth begin to ache due to abscesses and pus at the tooth root. The gums around the teeth become soft, inflamed, leading to loose teeth and bleeding gums.
4. Periodontitis is harmful to oral health
Periodontitis is a disease that is quite dangerous to oral health:
4.1. Tooth abscess
From the position close to the tooth root, bacteria will quickly and easily invade and attack the tooth pulp, causing pulpitis. In more severe cases, pulpitis will form abscesses with pus, causing pain and discomfort.
4.2. Gum recession and bone loss
Because the gums around the teeth will soften, if periodontitis is not treated early, it can lead to gum recession and bone loss. At this time, the exposed tooth roots affect the ability to chew and cause loss of aesthetics.
4.3. Tooth loss
If periodontitis is left untreated for too long, other teeth will also be attacked and destroyed quickly. At this time, loose teeth and mass tooth loss are the final effects of periodontitis.
5. Periodontitis is harmful to overall health
Not only affecting oral health, periodontitis also causes some complications for the body:
5.1. Respiratory diseases
Bacteria from the oral cavity can go down to the lungs, causing severe infections and pneumonia. This is very likely to happen to elderly patients.
5.2. Diabetes
Gingivitis reduces the patient’s ability to control blood sugar levels. Therefore, the risk of diabetes is quite high.
5.3. Heart disease and atherosclerosis
Bacteria that attack the oral cavity can attack the liver, causing the liver to produce substances that are harmful to the cardiovascular system and make heart disease worse.
5.4. Stroke
Gingivitis causes arteries to become blocked and the risk of stroke will increase.
5.5. Premature birth
During pregnancy, due to hormonal changes in the body, pregnant women are often susceptible to oral diseases. Prolonged periodontitis will cause uterine contractions and easy labor before the due date.
5.6. Blood infection
When a patient has periodontitis leading to bleeding gums, bacteria can enter the blood and cause blood infection.
6. Treatment of periodontitis at the dentist
The doctor will have a treatment method for each stage of disease progression:
6.1. Mild cases of periodontitis
In cases where the gums are only swollen due to not having tartar removed for a long time and the periodontal tissue structure has not been seriously affected, treatment will be by removing tartar and combining it with proper oral hygiene.
6.2. Severe cases of periodontitis
In cases where pus pockets under the gums have appeared, it is necessary to combine many methods for effective treatment. Not only removing tartar but also opening the gums, scraping the periodontal pockets and cleaning the tooth roots.
If the gums are severely receding, a gum graft will be performed to support the gum recovery process. When the hard tissue of the tooth has been destroyed, severe pulpitis makes it impossible to maintain the tooth, the doctor will prescribe tooth extraction.
7. Treating periodontitis at home
In cases of mild periodontitis, some effective home remedies can be applied:
7.1. Using lemon
Using a mixture of lemon juice and a little salt to apply directly to the painful tooth root area will reduce inflammation and eliminate bad breath in the oral cavity.
7.2. Using salt water
Hold a little salt mixture diluted with warm water in your mouth for about 1 minute, then spit it out to clean the oral cavity, prevent the damage from spreading and reduce pain. This tip can be applied 3 times/1 day.
7.3. Using garlic
Apply crushed garlic with white salt directly to the inflamed tooth root area for about 10-15 minutes, then rinse your mouth with clean water to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria. Apply this method 2-3 times/day and the pain will be reduced.
7.4. Use licorice
This method is done by holding about 2-3 slices of fresh licorice in the mouth for a while, then chewing slowly, swallowing the water and spitting out the pulp. Licorice has the ability to inhibit the activity of many bacteria that cause inflammation and at the same time eliminate unpleasant odors in the mouth.
So periodontitis is an oral disease that causes many dangers to oral health and overall health. However, periodontitis is a disease that can be completely cured when choosing a reputable dentist or can even be treated simply with natural ingredients available at home
