You should know these facts about periodontitis!

For many people, periodontitis is a disease that is both familiar and unfamiliar. On the one hand, periodontitis is quite "famous", and on the other hand, it has always remained mysterious. Many rumors about periodontitis have been misleading the public and are very detrimental to the prevention and treatment of periodontitis, so the truth needs to be restored urgently.

Truth 1——

Periodontitis is an infectious disease, but anti-infective drugs are not the first choice for treatment

Like infectious diseases in other parts of the body, periodontitis has corresponding pathogens. However, the pathogenic pathogens of periodontitis are characterized by their presence in the form of bacterial biofilms - dental plaque. Dental plaque is a collection of various microorganisms. Compared with free bacteria, dental plaque is much more resistant to drugs. Therefore, in the treatment of periodontitis, mechanical methods that can remove dental plaque (brushing, flossing, washing teeth, etc.) are often the first choice. These methods are collectively referred to as basic treatment methods . Anti-infective drugs are used in conjunction with the severity of the disease.

Truth 2——

The occurrence and development of periodontitis is related to nutritional status, but its occurrence is not caused by nutritional deficiency.

Gum bleeding and gum recession are common symptoms of periodontitis patients, and people tend to naturally associate these symptoms with nutritional deficiencies. Modern medical research has indeed confirmed that the occurrence, development and treatment effects of periodontitis are related to nutritional factors, and proper nutritional supplementation can help promote the recovery of periodontal tissues in an inflammatory state after professional treatment. But this does not mean that nutritional factors are the decisive factors in the occurrence of periodontitis. After all, there are many people with periodontitis, but very few people are truly malnourished. Therefore, it makes no sense to blame periodontitis on nutritional deficiencies without thinking! And without professional treatment, it is tantamount to a fool's dream to simply prevent and treat periodontitis by supplementing nutrition.

Truth 3 —

Gingivitis is not the same as periodontitis, nor does it necessarily develop into periodontitis.

Gingivitis and periodontitis are two common types of periodontal tissue diseases. They have similarities and differences. The similarity is that both have symptoms of gingival bleeding; the difference is that periodontitis also has symptoms such as periodontal pocket formation, alveolar bone resorption and loose teeth. The inflammation of gingivitis is limited to the gingival tissue and does not damage the periodontal membrane or alveolar bone.

Image source: Wikipedia

Although gingivitis may be an early sign of periodontitis, it is also true that not all gingivitis will develop into periodontitis. We should be cautious and be careful to prevent periodontitis, but there is no need to panic.

Truth 4 —

Teeth cleaning is necessary for preventing and treating periodontitis, but over-reliance on teeth cleaning is putting the cart before the horse.

As we all know, teeth cleaning is an effective way to prevent and control periodontitis. Compared with brushing and flossing, the unique skill of teeth cleaning is to remove dental calculus. Although teeth cleaning is very powerful, it cannot be done frequently, and the maximum is once every six months.

As the saying goes, a frozen three-foot-thick ice is not formed in a day. The maintenance of oral health depends on day-to-day efforts. Brushing teeth and using dental floss may seem like "a foolish man moving a mountain", but their role cannot be underestimated. Good daily health care is not only conducive to the long-term maintenance of periodontal tissue health, but also greatly beneficial to the recovery after periodontitis treatment.