What are the symptoms of periodontitis?

Written by Peng Ting
Dentistry
Updated on May 16, 2025
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
47sec home-news-image

Can you get your teeth cleaned during periodontitis?

Periodontitis is an inflammation of the supporting tissues around the teeth, commonly seen as gingivitis or periodontitis. In the early stages of gingivitis or periodontitis, dental calculus and soft plaque accumulate on the surface of the teeth, irritating the gum tissue and causing the gums to become red, suppurate, or even bleed. This condition requires prompt dental cleaning. Through ultrasonic oscillation, the dental calculus attached around the teeth is removed. If there is subgingival calculus, dental cleaning alone may not completely remove it, and subgingival scaling is also necessary, using specialized tools to manually remove the subgingival calculus.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
1min 5sec home-news-image

What to do if periodontitis causes a fever?

Periodontitis is an inflammation of the gums and oral cavity. When a patient has periodontitis, they may experience pain and swelling. When the inflammation is severe, the patient may have a slight fever. In such cases, it is generally recommended that the patient take oral antibiotics effective against anaerobic bacteria, such as metronidazole or tinidazole, as well as anti-inflammatory antibiotics like amoxicillin, cephalosporins, levofloxacin, or erythromycin. If fever occurs, it is recommended that the patient take antipyretic analgesics, such as ibuprofen sustained-release tablets or acetaminophen tablets, which can relieve pain and reduce fever. If the periodontitis is severe, it is advised that the patient should promptly visit a hospital and follow a doctor’s guidance to develop an appropriate treatment plan. (Note: The use of medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
38sec home-news-image

How to deal with loosening of the front teeth due to periodontitis?

For periodontitis with loosening of the front teeth, an X-ray of the teeth is needed to assess the severity of the periodontitis. If the loosening of the front teeth is simply due to absorption of the alveolar bone, this can be addressed through basic periodontal treatment, which includes teeth cleaning to remove tartar, dental plaque, and other local irritants, followed by irrigation around the gums, medication application, or guided bone regeneration to improve the looseness of the teeth. However, if the periodontitis is accompanied by severe alveolar bone loss, tooth extraction may be necessary.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
50sec home-news-image

How is periodontitis treated at the dentist?

The treatment plan for periodontitis and caries requires first taking an X-ray to understand the severity of the periodontitis. If the periodontitis is not severe and is merely inflammation of the gum tissue, characterized by red, swollen gums, pus discharge, or bleeding, this situation can be addressed by dental cleaning to remove local irritants, followed by medicated rinsing around the gums to improve inflammation. If the periodontitis is more severe, involving absorption of the alveolar bone, then guided bone regeneration procedures are necessary. After basic treatment of the periodontitis, the teeth enter a maintenance phase, requiring regular follow-up visits.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
1min 13sec home-news-image

Does periodontitis use infusion tubes?

Gingivitis infusion therapy does have certain effects. This is because infusion mainly consists of antibiotics that can treat inflammation and alleviate symptoms; however, this effect is primarily temporary. For a thorough treatment, it is necessary to visit a professional dental department at a regular hospital for systematic periodontal treatment, including supragingival cleaning, subgingival scaling, and root planing. Alternatively, without infusion, you can use periodontitis drugs under the guidance of a doctor, such as anti-inflammatory drugs like Metronidazole, Tinidazole, and Ornidazole. Regular oral hygiene is crucial: brush your teeth in the morning and evening, rinse after meals, and regularly visit the dental department at a recognized hospital for periodontal maintenance. Only by doing so can the inflammation of the periodontium be controlled. (Use of medication should be under the guidance of a physician)