There’s nothing good about periodontal disease. Not only does it wreak havoc on teeth and gums, but it also looks — and smells — bad. However serious periodontal disease (sometimes called ‘periodontitis’) is, it’s a fairly common condition that you can manage with a good treatment plan. Let’s talk about periodontal disease, how it affects your health, and what periodontal disease treatment can look like.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease (or periodontitis) is a degenerative condition characterised by gum inflammation and infection. It is a type of gum disease more serious than gingivitis, affecting not only the gums but also their supporting ligaments and bones. Left untreated, periodontitis can progress to an advanced stage, resulting in — worst-case scenario — tooth loss. If you have any of the following symptoms, book an appointment at Stanley St. Dental at your earliest convenience:
- Red (or sometimes purple), swollen, or sore gums
- Bleeding gums, especially when brushing or flossing
- Perpetual bad breath
- Perpetual unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Pain when chewing
- Gum recession
- Loose teeth
- Changes in jaw alignment or dentition (i.e. the arrangement of teeth in the mouth)
What Causes Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is almost always the result of plaque buildup in the mouth. Plaque is a sticky, bacteria-rich film that coats the teeth, and its bacteria will only build up and multiply if it’s not cleaned off. When there’s too much plaque in the mouth, gum disease can develop — and it’s a four-stage beast you should try to nip in the bud as early as possible. Here is an overview of the four stages of gum disease:
Stage 1: Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, characterised by red, puffy gums that may bleed when you brush or floss. At this stage, bones beneath the gums remain unaffected, making this stage the most reversible.
Stage 2: Mild Periodontitis
Mild periodontitis is the stage at which bacteria begin to reach the supporting bone beneath the gums. You may notice gum recession resulting in pockets around the teeth, where bacteria can collect — beyond the reach of a toothbrush or floss.
Stage 3: Moderate Periodontitis
Moderate periodontitis is an even more serious stage of infection. It erodes the ligaments, soft tissues, and bones that provide foundational support to teeth. This is the stage where bad breath, pain, and even pus can set in.
Stage 4: Advanced Periodontitis
Advanced periodontitis is the final stage — and it’s not pretty. Bacteria continue to attack supporting structures, to the point where bones are no longer strong enough to support teeth. Your teeth will likely loosen, and a worst-case scenario will see you losing bones and teeth.
Periodontal Disease: The Enemy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Not only is periodontal disease horrendous for your oral health, but it’s also a roadblock to cosmetic dentistry. In fact, if you have even early-stage gum disease, dental professionals prefer to resolve that first before beginning on aesthetics. With periodontitis weakening teeth and their supporting bones, your mouth will lack the foundation to hold up the teeth you have, let alone incoming prosthetics or appliances. Cosmetic procedures also weren’t designed with gum disease in mind — and with uneven and receding gums in the mix, the end result won’t look crash-hot anyway.
Banish bad breath, resolve the red, raw rage of inflamed gums, and tame the long-toothed mammoth of all problems — gum recession — by addressing periodontal disease head-on.
Can I Take Antibiotics for Periodontal Disease?
You can absolutely take antibiotics for periodontal disease, and you can choose either a systemic or topical treatment. Whether you take the systemic or topical route will largely depend on how far your gum disease has progressed.
Systemic Antibiotics
Systemic antibiotics are oral or intravenous medications that single out periodontitis-causing bacteria. They’re ideal for later-stage gum disease or infections that have spread beyond the mouth. Common systemic antibiotics for periodontal disease include tetracycline, azithromycin, metronidazole, amoxicillin, and clindamycin.
Topical Antibiotics
Topical antibiotics are a more localised form of treatment that targets specific spots in the mouth. They often take the form of gels, strips, or chips and are applied directly to problem areas. Atridox, Periochip, Actisite, Elyzol, and Arestin are all popular brands of topical antibiotics for treating periodontal disease.
What’s a Good Toothpaste for Periodontal Disease?
If you’re still waiting on your dentist to prescribe antibiotics — or if they don’t believe it’s necessary — finding a good toothpaste for periodontal disease is a proactive step in the right direction. Here are some of our recommendations:
Curasept 0.05% Chlorhexidine Toothpaste
Using fluoride toothpaste is a fairly baseline form of dental care — but when you add chlorhexidine into the mix, you’re taking an extra step to fight gum disease. Chlorhexidine is a powerful antiseptic often found in mouthwash solutions — and usually used for surgical sterilisation. You certainly won’t need more than the 0.05% added to this Curasept product.
PDS Chlorofluor Toothpaste
Australian-made and owned, PDS Chlorofluor Toothpaste is another powerful concoction of chlorhexidine and fluoride. It’s specifically formulated to manage dental plaque, tooth decay, bad breath, and gum inflammation — in other words, all the major symptoms of gingivitis and periodontitis.
Curaprox PerioPlus+ Support Toothpaste
Like the Curasept and PDS products above, Curaprox PerioPlus+ Support Toothpaste combines fluoride with chlorhexidine to pack a serious punch. It also features hyaluronic acid, which hits Fast Forward on tissue regeneration. Because this toothpaste is particularly potent, please speak to your dentist before incorporating it into your daily dental hygiene routine.
Oral7 Moisturising Toothpaste
Featuring enamel-strengthening dicalcium phosphate and decay-preventing sodium monofluorphosphate, Oral7 Moisturising Toothpaste is restorative and rejuvenating. It also contains enzymes (including lactoperoxidase, lactoferrin, and lysozyme) that break down plaque and reduce gum inflammation, promoting healing and fighting against gum disease.
Is Periodontal Disease Contagious?
Periodontal disease is not a condition you can ‘pass on’ per se, but exposure to the bacteria that cause it can put a healthy mouth at risk. If harmful bacteria are repeatedly introduced into the mouth, this may offset the natural balance of oral bacteria, increasing the risk of developing gum disease. The best way to avoid passing on oral bacteria is to avoid mouth-to-mouth contact (such as kissing) and refrain from sharing utensils or toothbrushes.
Treat Periodontal Disease Today
Periodontitis is as bad as it gets. Whether you’re at the early-stage irritation of gingivitis or the late-stage fear of losing your teeth, you need to take action sooner rather than later.
If any of the symptoms in this blog feel familiar, book an appointment with Stanley St. Dental today. We’ll determine what we’re dealing with, devise a treatment plan, and perhaps even prescribe the right antibiotics or toothpaste.