Periodontitis Treatment at Home: What Should You Do?

Periodontitis is classified as a gum disease that can lead to some serious dental problems. The commonly known effects of this disease are tooth loss, damage to the jaws, and other complications. Learn more about its symptoms, causes, and recommended periodontitis treatment at home. 

What is Periodontitis?

Before we learn about periodontitis treatment at home, let’s first understand this condition

This particular disease causes the gums to get infected and in turn, it damages the soft tissues on the gums. If left untreated, then it would definitely further harm a person’s overall dental health. To be more specific, the gums and teeth of the person diagnosed with this disease will deteriorate and pain and discomfort would be felt. 

Periodontitis originates from poor dental hygiene. If an individual does not frequently clean their teeth by brushing, flossing, and having regular visits to the dentist, then that will cause plaque build-up and inflict a lot of issues to the teeth of the person associated with the disease. 

There are several signs of being afflicted with this gum disease and some of these are:

• Inflammation
• Formation of plaque
• Bleeding of the gums
• Loss of tissue that supports the bone and teeth

With that being said, there are periodontitis treatments that can lessen the pain. There are home remedies that you can try out if you are unable to pay the dentist. 

What is the Cause of Periodontitis?

The root cause of periodontitis is poor oral hygiene. If a person is not particular to dental hygiene then tartar will gradually form on the teeth. Tartar cannot be removed by simply brushing it off with toothpaste. It would be best to consult your dentist and have your teeth cleaned and the tartar removed. Your periodontitis treatment at home will depend on the state of your oral health. 

There are also other factors that contribute to the risk of getting this gum disease. Below are some examples:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Type 2 diabetes
• Genetics 
• Hormonal changes in women and young girls 
• Lack of nutrition such as Vitamin C deficiency 
• Poor immune system due to illnesses such as HIV, leukemia, AIDS, and cancer treatments 
• Medications that affect the flow of saliva 

What are the Symptoms of Periodontitis?

Below is a list of several symptoms that will help you identify whether you may have periodontitis:

• Foul breath 
• Loose teeth 
• Bleeding red gums 
• Sensitive teeth 
• Inflamed gums 
• Plaque build up 
• Gums feel tender when touched 
• Chewing starts to feel painful 
• Spaces between the teeth start growing
• Pus can be seen forming in spaces between the teeth 
• Blood can be seen when one spits out after brushing their teeth
• Receding gums, meaning, the teeth are now visibly more exposed

Diagnosis of Periodontitis

A visit to your dentist will help you determine your oral health. The dentist will then perform a check-up and search for any signs of periodontitis. These professionals will be conducting the following: 

• The dentist will examine the gums of the patient and identify if there are signs of inflammation and bleeding. 
• The dentist will then probe the gums using a small ruler. The ruler will not slide too far if the gums are healthy. However, the opposite will happen if the patient has periodontitis. 
• In terms of plaque and tartar build-up, only the dentist will be able to spot those and clean them off the surface of the teeth. 
• The dentist may also ask the patient regarding their medical history. This will help them determine if there are other factors, such as smoking and other illnesses, that may have caused periodontitis. 
• The dentists will also make use of an x-ray to determine the severity of the gum disease and identify if there is bone loss. 

If the gum disease is not too severe, then the dentist would recommend a few types of periodontitis treatment at home. 

Can Periodontitis Be Cured?

This gum disease has no cure. Moreover, periodontitis is actually the final stage of gum disease. Once it reaches this advanced stage of the disease, then it is impossible to cure. However, if the disease gets treated early on during its gingivitis stage, then curing said gum disease would be possible. 

Treatment For Periodontitis 

It is best to consult your dentist regarding the matter of treating this gum disease. The periodontitis treatment may vary depending on the severity of the disease. If it is in its early stages, then non-surgical periodontitis treatment at home will be recommended by the dentist. Some of this will include the following:

• The dentist will schedule an appointment for tartar removal.
• Antibiotics will be given in order to minimize and control infections. 
• A root planing procedure will also be done as this will prevent plaque from building up and causing inflammation to the gums. 

Treatment For Advanced Cases 

Once the gingivitis stage has advanced into periodontitis, then it is irreversible and nothing can cure this disease. However, professionals strongly suggest these procedures to address advanced cases: 

• Flap surgery
• Soft tissue grafts
• Bone grafting 
• Guided tissue regeneration 
• Tissue-stimulating proteins 

Periodontitis Treatment at Home

When it comes to periodontitis treatment at home, there are also remedies that can be done in order to address the early stages of gum disease. Below are some practices that will help improve and maintain oral health: 

• Practicing good oral hygiene by brushing the teeth frequently. It is best to brush the teeth three times a day using fluoride toothpaste. 
• Regularly floss the teeth in order to eliminate plaque build-up in spaces in between the teeth.
• Replace your toothbrush after 3 to 4 months of use.
• If you smoke, it is better to break the habit as this can contribute to the advancement of gum disease. 

Key Takeaways

Is there an available and recommended periodontitis treatment at home? Periodontitis is a serious case of oral health issues that may lead to the loss of teeth and other dental problems. Unless addressed and treated in its early stages, it will worsen as it progresses. It is important to have regular trips to the dentist so you can have your oral health checked. 

Remember to always observe proper oral hygiene as this will ultimately be the best course of action to do to prevent gum disease from happening. After all, prevention is better than cure. 

Learn more about Gum and Mouth Diseases here.