Gum disease treatment may be nonsurgical or surgical, depending on the stage of disease and your oral and overall health. Nonsurgical treatments include scaling and root planing and antibiotics. Surgical options include pocket reduction surgery and guided tissue regeneration.
Treatment may be done by a dentist or a periodontist. A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in gum disease. A dental hygienist may work with your dentist or periodontist as part of your treatment plan.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to “cure” a gum infection without dental treatment. In order to remove the bacterial source of the infection, a dentist must clean it out completely. This occurs within a tooth during a root canal procedure, or around a tooth during periodontal treatments.
In addition, you should see a dentist if your gums are swollen for several weeks. That goes even if you don't have symptoms of an infection. If at-home oral care doesn't reduce the swelling, there may be a more serious condition that needs evaluation.
Professional dental cleaning.
Scaling removes tartar and bacteria from your tooth surfaces and beneath your gums. Root planning removes the bacterial products produced by inflammation, smooths the root surfaces, discouraging further buildup of tartar and bacteria, and allows proper healing.
Salt water is extremely effective in helping to heal gums affected by gum disease. Salt water can treat inflammation, ease pain, and reduce bacteria in the mouth and gums. Rinsing with salt water 2-3 times a day can be effective in battling a gum infection.
Gum disease isn't curable, but it's manageable with appropriate treatment. You can't cure it because once you lose structural support around your teeth, you don't usually get all of it back. However, periodontal treatment can reduce infection and rebuild your bone and tissue to some degree. Another factor is genetics.
If you have a fever and swelling in your face and you can't reach your dentist, go to an emergency room. Also go to the emergency room if you have trouble breathing or swallowing. These symptoms may indicate that the infection has spread deeper into your jaw, throat or neck or even to other areas of your body.
Periodontitis (per-e-o-don-TIE-tis), also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue around teeth. Without treatment, periodontitis can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. This can cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss. Periodontitis is common but can usually be prevented.
The Danger of Untreated Infected Teeth and Gums
If they are not treated, they can last for several months or years.
An abscess in the gum is called a periodontal abscess. Dental abscesses are often painful, but aren't always. In either case, they should be looked at by a dentist. It's important to get help as soon as possible, because abscesses don't go away on their own.
A periodontal abscess is a pocket of pus in the tissues of the gum. It looks like a small red ball pushing out of the swollen gum. An abscess can occur with serious gum disease (periodontitis), which causes the gums to pull away from the teeth.
Gum disease can be a hard thing to recover from, however, with the help of a general dentist, it is possible. Both the soft tissues and the bone can heal, allowing for strong gums and good oral health.
Gum disease is where the gums become red, swollen and sore, and bleed. It's very common, but it's important to get it checked by a dentist.
There are two types of dental abscesses: A periapical, or tooth abscess, affects the tooth's root. The other type, a periodontal (gum) abscess, affects the gums. Gum abscesses usually occur in severe periodontal disease cases, when the gums have pulled away from the teeth, causing pockets to form.
They may experience receding gums, loosening teeth, or tooth loss when it progresses into severe periodontal disease. If you wonder if you can live with this disease, the answer is yes. In general, periodontal disease does not cause pain, which is one of the reasons it develops into a severe condition.
An infection in the tooth or gums can lead to: Infection of the surrounding bone. Facial bones, particularly the maxilla and mandible, do not tolerate the long-term presence of infection very well. If infection spreads into these bones, surgical removal of the bone may be required in order to arrest further spread.
In conclusion, the maximum period that an untreated tooth abscess can sustain is 12 months or more. But, such longevity is associated with dangerous complications such as sepsis or even death. Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!
The only way to truly get rid of an infection is with antibiotics. However, home remedies for tooth infection can help manage the symptoms and alleviate some of the pain.
Metronidazole works best when used in a combination with amoxicillin or tetracycline. Ciprofloxacin: This antibiotic is used to specifically target A. actinomycetemcomitans, a slow-growing but harmful bacterium that contributes to gum disease.
If left untreated, gum recession and tooth loss can occur. Whilst some symptoms will indicate the presence of gum disease because it is such a slow-progressing condition, regular hygienist appointments are paramount if you want to prevent unpleasant symptoms.
Advanced periodontitis is the fifth and final stage of gum disease, and it is likely that you will lose teeth or at least loosen teeth during this phase without immediate dental intervention. The infection impacts the jawbone, so teeth may be lost regardless.
Oils such as eucalyptol, menthol, and tea tree, can help kill harmful bacteria in your mouth. This keeps your gums from getting inflamed. It's for this reason you'll often find these ingredients in toothpaste and mouthwash.
Salt is a natural disinfectant that helps with gum disease in a few ways: It removes loose debris and cleans the teeth and gums. Reduces inflammation and swelling and soothes the gums. It helps to get rid of decay and plaques.