What are the symptoms of periodontitis?

Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
Updated on September 26, 2024
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Periodontitis stems from the further development of gingivitis, sharing many symptoms, including gum redness, congestion, and pain when eating. Additionally, periodontitis can cause teeth to become loose, and in severe cases, lead to tooth loss. There is also the presence of a periodontal ligament condition. Generally, gingivitis corresponds to a pseudo periodontal ligament while periodontitis involves the actual periodontal ligament due to the resorption of the alveolar bone—this distinction is crucial in differentiating gingivitis from periodontitis. Periodontitis features true periodontal ligament formation concurrent with the resorption of the jawbone. Dietary precautions for periodontitis include avoiding hard foods and not chewing hard objects to prevent resorption of the alveolar bone in the root apex area.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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How is periodontitis treated?

Periodontitis is an inflammation of the periodontal supporting tissue, often caused by not brushing or rinsing promptly after eating. Food residue accumulates around the gums, which over time can cause bleeding gums or bleeding during brushing. Severe cases may further develop into periodontal pockets, where dental calculus appears, potentially leading to loose teeth, tooth loss, or even absorption of the alveolar bone. Therefore, the basic treatment for periodontitis involves controlling plaque and eliminating inflammation. This can be achieved through ultrasonic cleaning, which is essentially teeth cleaning to remove dental calculus, followed by rinsing and medicating around the gums to improve their condition. In severe cases, periodontal scaling may be necessary. Thus, treatment of periodontitis is divided into basic treatment and maintenance treatment, with maintenance following the basic treatment phase.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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What department should I go to for periodontitis?

Periodontitis is an inflammatory reaction that occurs in the supporting tissues of the periodontium, commonly presenting as gingivitis or periodontitis in clinical settings. Gingivitis, the early stage of periodontitis, is caused by food residues left after eating, which calcify under the action of saliva to form tartar. This tartar further irritates and causes inflammation of the gingival or periodontal tissues. Initially, one should visit the ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) department for this condition. If the specialties are further divided, one can consult the oral medicine department under ENT. If oral medicine is further subdivided, a visit to the periodontal department is necessary. Therefore, for detailed treatment of periodontitis, it is advisable to visit the periodontology department within the oral specialties to undergo teeth cleaning followed by gingival medication to improve the symptoms of periodontitis.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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What part of the body is moxibustion applied to for periodontitis?

Gingivitis generally occurs because the teeth surface of patients accumulates dental plaque and tartar over a long period, which causes the gum tissue to be in a chronic state of inflammation, eventually leading to periodontitis. Therefore, it is advised that patients with periodontitis primarily focus on timely cleaning of the dirt attached to the surface of the teeth. If not removed, it will continuously cause progressive irritation to the periodontal tissue, leading to chronic inflammatory changes in the entire dental tissue. If treating periodontitis, the first step should be the removal of the attached substances from the dental tissue, which can effectively eliminate dental plaque and tartar in the periodontal area, and is quite effective in treating periodontitis. Since these substances cannot be eliminated, the treatment generally does not achieve very good results. Thus, when patients suffer from periodontitis, moxibustion treatment is generally not employed, as it cannot remove the dental plaque and tartar on the teeth and does not serve a significant therapeutic effect. Hence, if patients want to effectively manage periodontitis, they must start with some cleaning of the gums. Patients can remove dental plaque and tartar through professional dental cleaning, then take some anti-inflammatory medication, and be vigilant about oral hygiene in daily life. Regular follow-ups are recommended to keep periodontitis under control.

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Written by Peng Ting
Dentistry
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What are the symptoms of periodontitis?

Periodontitis is caused by the invasion of plaque and bacteria into the periodontal supporting tissues, including the gums, periodontal membrane, dentin, and alveolar bone, leading to chronic inflammation and destruction of these tissues. Healthy gums are pink in color, thin at the edges, and tightly adhere to the tooth surface; they are also tough and not prone to bleeding. When periodontitis occurs, there is a significant accumulation of tartar on the tooth surface. This tartar irritates the gums, causing them to become red and swollen, soft in texture, and prone to bleeding upon contact. Periodontal pockets may form, and in severe cases, pus may exude from these pockets. The absorption of the alveolar bone and loosening of the teeth can eventually lead to tooth loss.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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Do you need to get your teeth cleaned for periodontitis?

Periodontitis generally develops from gingivitis and is caused by irritation from dental calculus, soft deposits or dental plaque around the gums, leading to bleeding gums or bleeding when eating, as well as the further infection by bacteria causing swollen, suppurating gums and the formation of periodontal pockets. Severe cases may involve the loss of alveolar bone. Therefore, the basic treatment for periodontitis is dental cleaning, which involves removing irritants around the teeth, followed by rinsing and medicating to improve the inflammatory condition. If symptoms do not improve effectively after basic dental cleaning treatment, further treatments such as subgingival scaling to remove calculus under the gums or root planing may be necessary. If the absorption of the alveolar bone is severe, alveolar bone grafting may also be considered.