Gum infection (symptoms, causes and treatment methods)

What is gum infection?

Gum infection is a dangerous infection in the mouth that causes inflammation of the gums and jaw in addition to the infection. If you have an infection, it’s important to treat it early. In the case of gum infection, it is not only painful, but there may be a more important issue such as an advanced dental disease; Otherwise, the problem is inflammation of the gums. The place of gum infection is in your mouth, right under the gum, that is, the seam between the gum and the teeth (groove).

This issue affects the connection of the teeth to the gums and causes pressure on the root of the tooth and exposes the gum tissue to damage. When the tissue is damaged, the gap in the tooth is placed in a position where bacteria can enter, causing a gum infection. Since the gums provide essential support to the teeth, it is vital to keep them in good condition.

Causes of gum infection

Gum infection is actually the accumulation of bacteria in the tissue around the tooth. The mouth has always been the host of all kinds of bacteria, but maintaining hygiene and using a toothbrush and dental floss will control the level of these bacteria and keep the mouth, teeth and gums healthy and prevent tooth decay. Plaque is a thin film that covers around the teeth and it is very important to clean it; Because if it is not cleaned, it becomes hard and this hardness becomes mass and sediment, and it is very difficult to remove this mass and sediment.

And on the other hand, it opens the way for bacteria to easily enter the tissue around the tooth. According to some sources, smoking and using tobacco is the biggest cause of gum disease and on the other hand, it makes treatments less effective. Other factors that can affect gum infection are these.

• Diabetes
• Hormonal changes in women, especially during pregnancy
• Genetics
• Stress and anxiety
• Crooked teeth
• Medicines that make saliva dry or less
• Weak immune system

Causes of bad breath and prevention methods

In some cases, things placed in the mouth increase the risk of gum infection. For example, dentures or wires that do not fit well, or fillings if they are incomplete or defective. When you do not observe oral and dental hygiene, these things happen; Bacteria that are naturally present in your mouth multiply and form dental plaque; Then, if you don’t remove this plaque by brushing your teeth, the bacteria accumulates minerals in the plaque, which is called plaque, and causes more bacteria to grow there towards the root of the tooth. Your immune system’s response to these bacteria is swelling in your gums.

As a result of the passage of time, the connection between the root of the tooth and the gum is broken, and there may be a gap between the root of your tooth and the gum. Finally, anaerobic and harmful bacteria arise in this gap, settle and multiply and release toxic substances that can damage the teeth, gums and the protective bone composition.

Treatment of gum infection

Gum infection or tooth disease may require a deep cleaning of the gums and the area around the teeth; It is also necessary to clean any dental abscess in the mouth. As soon as you notice your gum infection, you should visit your dentist. You have a number of treatment options that vary based on the severity of the infection. Here we will describe some of the common methods of treating gum infection.

Antibiotic treatment

As you know, like many infections, antibiotics are often used for gum infection. Your doctor may give you antibiotic pills or inject it directly into the site of infection.

Root treatment

In advanced gum infections, we use this treatment; So that it will clean deeply between the gums and teeth towards the roots.

Removal of gum tissue

In the third type of treatment, the gum tissue is removed.

Surgery

If your gum disease is severe, surgery may be necessary, including tissue or bone grafting.

Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent further complications. These complications may be tooth or tissue loss.

Prevention of gum infection

According to many sources, it is necessary to observe two points in the prevention of oral and dental diseases; One is oral hygiene and the other is not smoking. Keeping your gums healthy and preventing infection can be easy if you practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing daily and using a toothpick, preferably every day. By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of gum disease and infection, tooth decay, and other oral problems. Make a regular daily schedule for your oral health and stick to it. You will definitely benefit from this healthy habit.

• Brush twice a day. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste, such as anti-toxic gum toothpastes, twice a day is suitable. These anti-inflammatory toothpastes gently neutralize the bacteria around the gum line.
• Use an anti-gingival mouthwash. There are different types of these mouthwashes and some of them are more beneficial; Such as mouthwash that prevents cavity formation and whitening mouthwash.
• Visit a dentist at least twice a year for a professional check-up; Because there are deposits on the teeth that you cannot remove with home care.
• Rinse your mouth with fresh, clean water after every meal.
• Gargle with warm water and salt to reduce swelling and kill bacteria.
• Limit the consumption of sugary foods and soft drinks.

Symptoms of gum infection

Although severe gum infection is not a common issue, it can cause serious problems if not treated in time. While it is important for most of us to have healthy teeth and gums, if we do not protect them properly, they will become infected. Knowing the signs in the teeth and gums that lead to gum infection is an important way to prevent further gum disease and the symptoms that come with it.

Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease that can lead to gum infection or even a more problematic disease called periodontal disease. Periodontitis is a serious infection of the gums caused by bacteria that have collected on the teeth and gums. As this disease progresses, your bones and teeth will be damaged. If periodontitis is detected early and the person observes dental hygiene slow, this damage can be stopped. This disease starts with swelling and worsens over time. Symptoms depend on the level of the disease, but in general, in addition to the symptoms that will be mentioned for infection, they include tooth loss, taste and It also causes bad breath.)

Inflammation usually causes redness and swelling of the gums. Gums may bleed slowly, easily; Like when a person brushes his teeth. Some may not notice this at first. Although the advanced type of inflammation leads to infection in that place and at this stage the symptoms may appear more. Other symptoms of gum infection are these.

• Toothache while chewing
• Bleeding after brushing
• Having sensitive teeth so that sometimes eating and drinking are accompanied by pain
• Gums that are swollen, thin, tender, or bleeding
• Receding gums
• Pus coming from the gums or yellow, white, yellow and brown discharge from the mouth
• Difficulty breathing
• Loose teeth
• A noticeable change in the way the teeth fit together when you bite down on something

If you are suffering from any of the symptoms listed, it is important to consult your dentist to see how severe the infection is and take action to combat the problem.

The infection may lead to the formation of a pus-filled swelling in the mouth, called an abscess. An abscess needs prompt treatment. A person with an abscess may have painful swelling and discharge of pus from the mouth. Untreated infections have complications; For example, the infected tissue may put the root of the adjacent tooth in a dangerous situation, which may eventually lead to the loss of that tooth.

In addition, the tissue infection may spread to the surrounding jaw or bone and cause tissue damage. The bacteria may also enter the bloodstream and cause problems in other parts of the body. Many studies have shown that dental diseases, if not treated, may be directly related to other issues and diseases in the body; Such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, pregnancy problems, some respiratory diseases and cancer. In fact, dental disease may increase the risk of getting these diseases.