About half of all American adults suffer from some form of gum (periodontal) disease, including its most severe form: periodontitis.
Periodontitis happens when bacteria migrate down the surface of your tooth to your deeper gum tissue, including the tissue surrounding your tooth roots. As the infection progresses, you can wind up with considerable discomfort.
At Novi Family Dentistry in Novi, Michigan, Abir Faraj, DDS, offers advanced care for people with periodontitis, relieving your pain while reducing your risk of complications, like deep infection and tooth loss. If you’re having pain from gum disease, here’s what to do to find relief.
Before delving into solutions and treatments for periodontitis pain, it’s important to understand how periodontitis happens and why it causes discomfort.
Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria, most of which play important roles in keeping your mouth healthy and helping you digest foods. Some of those bacteria are not so nice, and when they build up along your gum line (often protected by plaque or tartar), they irritate your gum tissue, causing it to pull away from your tooth surface.
Over time, this reaction causes pockets to form around your tooth, enabling bacteria to travel farther down your tooth surface, spreading infection to deeper tissue. Eventually, bacteria reach the root pocket, causing deep infection that can loosen your tooth roots and lead to tooth loss.
Periodontitis causes pain in a few key ways, most notably from inflammation and swelling. Swelling can make your gums extremely tender and irritated, especially when you eat or brush your teeth.
Gum recession can also lead to discomfort. As more of your tooth is exposed, you can develop significant tooth sensitivity, especially when you eat or drink cold or hot foods and beverages or when you breathe in cold air. Sweet and sour foods and drinks can cause sensitivity issues too.
Teeth loosened by periodontitis can also be painful, especially when you’re biting or chewing. And finally, deep infections may lead to abscesses, pus-filled pockets that can be extremely painful.
Periodontitis is the most serious stage of gum disease, and it definitely needs professional treatment. Dr. Faraj uses special deep-cleaning techniques to access and remove bacteria below your gum line, followed by antibiotics to destroy hard-to-reach germs.
In some cases, she recommends surgery to restore your receding gums. Following your treatment, it’s important to have regular dental checkups and cleanings to keep bacteria — and future infections — at bay.
In addition to in-office care, there are some steps you can take at home to relieve your pain. Over-the-counter pain medication can help with discomfort until your office visit. Using a cold compress on your cheek may help with gum swelling. You can also use a saltwater rinse or a therapeutic mouthwash to help relieve inflammation and get rid of germs.
If your teeth are sensitive, try to stay away from very hot or cold foods, as well as sugary or sour foods and drinks. Smoking can make gum disease a lot worse and interfere with treatment. If you smoke, find tips to help you quit at SmokeFree.gov.
Gum disease causes few symptoms in its early stages. Having regular dental checkups and practicing good oral hygiene at home are the best ways to stop gum disease and prevent the complications it can cause.
To find relief for your periodontitis pain and avoid the serious problems it can cause, call 313-646-7903 or book an appointment online at Novi Family Dentistry today.
