If you've recently been diagnosed with periodontal disease and are concerned about poor breath, receding gums, and tooth loss, you're probably interested in how to treat periodontitis at home.
Periodontal disease (also known as gum disease) is usually caused by continuous poor dental hygiene, which results in an overgrowth of dangerous bacteria in the mouth. If left untreated, the teeth might become loose and unsteady and may fall out.
While seeking expert guidance from a dental facility is always recommended, the good news is that periodontitis may be avoided from worsening. Most effective therapy, which may be completed at home, can aid in periodontitis treatment.
What Are Periodontal Diseases?
Periodontal disorders, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are inflammatory illnesses caused by the accumulation of plaque bacteria in the mouth.
Gingivitis, the precursor of periodontitis, is a reversible disease marked by red, swollen, and irritated gums. When left untreated, it proceeds to the advanced stage, unfortunately irreversible. The good news is that it can be stopped from spreading further.
Symptoms of Periodontitis
- Advanced periodontal disease is marked by red, swollen, and inflammatory gums;
- Gums bleed when brushed or flossed;
- Chronic foul breath (halitosis);
- Loose, wobbly, or fallen teeth;
- Pus between the teeth and gums;
- Painful chewing;
- New gaps are growing between your teeth;
- Gum recession.
How to Treat Periodontitis at Home
The most effective strategy for curing periodontitis is to practice and maintain proper dental hygiene and make lifestyle modifications.
These therapies kill plaque bacteria, allowing the gums to repair, recuperate, and reconnect to their teeth. Furthermore, the inflammatory process is inhibited, preventing further bone damage.
Developing first-class oral hygiene is the most efficient technique to disturb sticky plaque on a regular basis. The following procedures can be followed every day to disrupt the microorganisms.
Brush your teeth twice a day
A precise approach is required to dislodge the plaque successfully. Here's the best method to accomplish it.
- Brush all surfaces of your teeth for two minutes;
- Use a tiny toothbrush with gentle bristles;
- Using an electric toothbrush rather than a manual brush can be more convenient and effective;
- To help protect your teeth from cavities, pick a toothpaste with fluoride;
- Avoid using water or mouthwash to rinse your mouth after brushing with fluoride toothpaste.
Clean the interdental spaces
To treat gum disease at home, it is critical to clean between the teeth and beneath the gum line on a daily basis. You can use a single tufted toothbrush, interdental brushes, or floss.
Some people feel that combining these instruments is the most effective approach to eliminating plaque from between their teeth.
Lifestyle Choices
Making minor lifestyle adjustments can help to reverse periodontal disease. Several of these modifications are:
- Smoking cessation;
- To control diabetes, reduce sugary drinks and snacks;
- Avoid carbohydrate snacks and fruit drinks;
- Drinking water;
- Eating a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables;
- Reducing stress.
Do Natural Remedies for Gum Disease Work?
Many individuals swear by natural cures, but dentists would promote them if they were effective as a home treatment for gum disease. The most effective technique to treat gum disease is to disrupt plaque microorganisms every day. This can only be accomplished by manually brushing and cleaning deep into the pockets and interdental areas. Home cures, such as oil pulling, cannot do this.
When to Visit the Dentist
Bacteria trapped in deep pockets and on dental roots that a toothbrush cannot reach is one component of periodontitis therapy. As a result, to manage gum disease at home, it may be necessary to seek gum health treatments and advice from dental professionals.
Gum health treatments include:
- Scaling is the removal of plaque and tartar from the gum line;
- Root debridement involves eliminating plaque and tartar from the tooth roots;
- Flap surgery is a surgical treatment for cleaning the tooth roots;
- Bone and soft tissue grafts—If there has been severe bone loss or gum recession, these surgical treatments may be included in dental implants, which are needed to replace lost teeth.
The bottom line
Periodontitis is an advanced periodontal disease that is most effectively treated at home by changing lifestyle choices and adopting good oral hygiene, including brushing teeth and cleaning the interdental areas.