Treatment of the gums

Periodontitis or “pyorrhoea” is an inflammatory disease that affects the tissues surrounding the tooth (gums and bone). It is currently the most important cause of tooth mobility and tooth loss. It appears in approximately 80 % of the middle-aged adult population (>35 years). It is caused by the accumulation of bacterial plaque from food on the surfaces of the teeth and gums.

Gum disease usually begins with accumulations of bacterial plaque around the teeth, penetrating the groove that surrounds the root and the bone. It shows up as small sporadic bleeds that become more frequent and intense over time, and it is usually accompanied by bad breath or halitosis that does not disappear after brushing. If this stage, called gingivitis, is not treated, it progresses with loss of bone and tooth support; pain may appear in one tooth or in all of them, or it may remain asymptomatic, the patient only noticing tooth mobility: this is the stage of periodontitis. Periodontitis is an irreversible process that, if untreated, worsens and leads to the loss of teeth, as well as contaminating the rest of the body and contributing to systemic diseases such as heart attack, diabetes, Parkinson's, etc. It is an infectious disease (caused by bacteria) and, depending on how far it has spread, it is called gingivitis (affecting only the gum) or periodontitis (affecting the bone). If it is left to progress untreated, it will destroy the bone, causing mobility and loss of the teeth.

In our clinics, periodontal treatment consists of:

• Periodontal probing: diagnosis of the degree of involvement and bone destruction.
• Scaling or mouth cleaning (removal of tartar above the gum line).
• Curettage and root planing by quadrants (removal of tartar below the gum line).
• Periodontal review and maintenance every 6 months (individualised periodic check-ups to evaluate the results and maintain periodontal health).
• The progression of the disease can be stopped, and recovery is better the earlier it has been detected.

The most obvious symptoms can be summarised as:

• Tooth mobility or receding gums.
• Spontaneous bleeding of the gums or bleeding when brushing.
• Swollen, red or painful gums.
• Sensitivity in one or more teeth.
• Bad breath.
• Purulent fluid between the teeth and gums.
• Gums separated from the tooth.

In most cases no pain is felt, which is why it often goes unnoticed. For this reason, it is important to request a gum evaluation at our clinics to stop periodontal disease in its early stages.