Remote Health Care

Periodontitis is a gum disease affecting the tissues that surround and support the teeth.  It involves progressive loss of the alveolar bone around the teeth.  If left untreated, it can lead to the loosening and successive loss of teeth.  Periodontitis is a severe periodontal disease caused by bacteria that stick to and thrive on the tooth’s surfaces, and the body’s natural response against these bacteria.

Other factors that may cause periodontal disease include the following:

1.     Smoking – Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors associated with the development of gum disease.  Not only that, it can also lower the chances for successful treatment.

2.    Diabetes – People with diabetes are at higher risk for developing infections and that includes periodontal disease.

3.    Medications – Some prescriptions and medications can reduce the flow of saliva.  Saliva has a protective effect on the mouth.  Without enough saliva, the mouth becomes vulnerable to dental and oral infections.  Likewise, some medications can cause abnormal overgrowth of the gum tissue making it difficult to keep gums clean.

4.    Hormonal changes in women – Age-related changes in women can make gums more sensitive and more susceptible to gum diseases.

5.    Other illnesses – Diseases like cancer or AIDS and their treatments can also negatively affect the dental health.

6.    Genetic make-up – Some people, by nature, are just more susceptible to severe gum disease than others.

A periodontitis is established after the dentist has inspected the soft gum tissues around the teeth with a probe which is done by inserting a small instrument between the tooth and gum to measure the depth of the pocket.  An evaluation of the patient’s x-ray films will follow to determine the amount of bone loss around the teeth.

The severity of periodontitis is classified according to the amount of periodontal ligament fibers that have been lost.  It is considered mild if it has a 1-2 mm of attachment loss; moderate if it is with 3-4 mm of attachment loss and severe if it has more than 5 mm of attachment loss.

Periodontitis is manifested by painful, red, swollen gums and prominent amount of plaque.  During its early stage, it manifests very few symptoms that many individuals fail to seek periodontal disease treatment before it has progressed significantly.  The following are symptoms of periodontal disease:

1.     Recurrent gum swelling and spitting out blood after brushing teeth

2.    Redness or bleeding of gums while brushing, flossing or when biting into hard food

3.    Bad breath or halitosis

4.    Persistent metallic taste in the mouth

5.    Gingival recession resulting lengthening appearance of teeth

6.    Existence of deep pockets between the teeth and the gums

7.    Loose teeth (this occurs in the later stages)

Most patients assume that painless bleeding after brushing or flossing is insignificant.  What they fail to realize is that gingival inflammation and bone destruction are largely painless but they are already symptoms of progressing periodontitis.

Suffering from periodontal disease?  Why not try taking the natural route in healing gum infection?  As you know, a holistic approach to treating periodontal disease is a more affordable yet safe and effective way of treating gum infection, especially gingivitis.  However, it is still important that you need to consult first with your dentist to know the severity of your gum disease as it require intrusive treatment to rehabilitate damaged bone and gum tissues.  Otherwise, you can resort to a more natural and effective way of kicking periodontal disease causing bacteria to the curb.  And you can save yourself on the expensive dental consultation fee as well.

The first periodontitis treatment you might want to consider is cranberry juice.  Cranberry juice is known to prevent bacteria from sticking on teeth, thus preventing plaque and tartar from building up and promote bacterial growth.          The recommended amount of cranberry juice is 4 ounces a day an dit must be unsweetened.  However, cranberry juice also has a blood thinning quality and must not be taken in conjunction with wafarin.  It could also cause an upset stomach when taken in excess.  So before you do drink or eat any cranberry product, consult with your dentist and doctor first.

Another well-known periodontitis treatment is lemon juice.  Lemon juice has powerful antiseptic qualities which can fight off bacterial infection.  Apart from that, it is also rich in Vitamin C which helps boost immune system to aid in healing and battle sickness and infection.  You can drink warm lemon juice to to help ease the discomfort brought by the infected gums, or you can mix it with salt and apply it directly to the infected areas of your gums.  Another way to use lemon juice is to mix it with four strawberries (another rich source of vitamin C) and use it as a toothpaste substitute.

Last but not the least, pomegranate rinds can be used as a substitute to your toothbrush.  As your gums tend to be very tender and bleed easily, an ordinary toothbrush can damage your infected gums..  A dried pomegranate rind can be used to clean the surface of your teeth as it also fights bad bacteria while at the same time protects your teeth against tooth decay.  You can also use a mixture of pomegranate powder and pepper and apply it on the infected areas of your gums.  Pomegranate rinds can also be mixed with lemon juice, salt, cinnamon and other herbs to create a potent mouthwash.