What kind of doctor treats gum infection?

Posted by nishimj on January 5th, 2021

For starters, a dentist with a specialization in the assessment, detection treatment, and prevention of the varying degrees of gum infection is referred to as a periodontist.There is no denying that when you hear the word dentist, you’ll exactly know what it is. But how about a periodontist? Do you have any idea what that means? If you’re not sure or no idea at all, then don’t fret because a lot of people can also relate.

Periodontists not only treat gum infections, but they are also trained to perform dental implant surgeries and subsequent placements of dental crowns or artificial teeth. At the onset of oral irritation or inflammation, it is best to see a periodontist as soon as you can before these conditions develop into something more serious such as periodontal diseases and cause irreversible damage to the mouth structures.

What’s the distinction between a general dentist and a periodontist?

An extra three years of thorough study is undertaken by a periodontist concerning periodontal disorders and management as well as cosmetic periodontal techniques.For serious gum disorders, they administer surgical operations and able to fix, position, and manage dental implants.

How does a periodontist detect a gum infection?

A periodontist typically reviews the patient's medical background to determine what leads to the clinical symptoms and to identify if they have a gum infection.To evaluate the factors why their gums, dry out or gets irritated, the smoking habits, environment, diet, and the kinds of medicine the patient is taken note of.Then for the accumulation of plaque bacteria and tartar, the oral structure is checked.The depth would be checked to assess the severity of the infection if dental pockets are present.Further scans such as x-ray imaging may be done to see whether there is possible deterioration of bones that protect the teeth to allow the periodontist to assess the condition better.

What are the stages of gum infection?

• Gingivitis -a minor type of gum disease that triggers gum irritation or more accurately, swelling of the region at the base of the teeth.Because it may be a precursor to a much more extreme form of gum disease, this must be addressed and closely monitored.
• Periodontitis-an advanced version of gum infection that can be dangerous to your general dental health.This infection alters the health of the soft tissues and also threatens the foundations of the bone that protect the teeth, resulting in the permanent falling off of teeth.Periodontitis is also a sign of the cardiovascular system having even more serious medical problems.

What causes gum infection?

The human mouth is riddled with bacteria and together with saliva and other particulates forms a sticky, slightly yellow plaque on the teeth. Plaque usually forms when a person does not brush or clean their teeth and gums properly. The plaque that is not expelled can stiffen and form tartar that cannot be cleaned by simple brushing.Tartar can only be eliminated by deep cleaning using a dental apparatus by a dentist or dental specialist.

There seem to be a variety of gum infection risk factors, but perhaps the most noteworthy one is tobacco use.Tobacco use can also render gum disease treatments less effective.Hormonal shifts in females, medications that reduce saliva flow, certain diseases, such as diabetes, AIDS(and its prescription drugs), as well as biological factors are additional risk factors.

Mitigation of gum infection begins at home

We have always been reminded by our dentists to take proper care of our oral health.Whereas regular dental examinations are told to eliminate tartar and diagnose warning indications of gum disease, at home, oral health preservation starts by taking good care of your teeth and gums.Here are a few approaches you should take to stop gum disease and help your teeth stay protected:

• Brush your teeth and gum linings with fluoride toothpaste for 2 - 3 minutes, at least two times daily.
• To extract plaque from areas that brushing can't penetrate, it is essential to floss the in-betweens of your teeth every day.
• A mouth wash can minimize plaque by nearly 20%, even though it is not a replacement for regular brushing and flossing.
• Refrain from consuming foods high in starch and sugar as these speeds up plaque formation. Only balanced nutrition provides the requisite resources (especially vitamins A and C) for gum disease prevention.
• Stop smoking cigarettes and use tobacco products, which may lead to oral cancer and dental problems.
• Be mindful that some drugs, particularly birth control, opioids, and cardiovascular disease medicines, can also exacerbate gum disease.

Attending regular dental cleaning sessions is also recommended.The best way to identify early symptoms of the periodontal disorder is to practice preventive measures and arrange for routine dentist visits. Inform your dentist about issues with your oral health such as bad fillings, cramped teeth, or poor chewing functions.Lastly, being a role model for their kids to help avoid dental issues is a must for parents.