| Inflammation
of the gums caused by bacteria is called as ‘gingivitis’.
In this condition the gums become red, swollen and can bleed
easily, often during tooth brushing.
Daily brushing and flossing, and regular cleaning by a dentist
or dental hygienist, could be all that is needed to prevent
gum disease and can actually reverse the early stages of the
disease and help you keep your teeth for a lifetime. This
form of gum disease does not include any loss of bone and
tissue that hold teeth in place.
Periodontitis
If gingivitis is left untreated, it can lead
to inflammation around the tooth and is called ‘Periodontitis’.
In Periodontitis, the inner layer of the gum and bone pull
away from the teeth (recede) and form ‘pockets’
that are infected. Periodontal diseases range from simple
gum inflammation to serious disease that result in major damage
to the bones, gums, and connective tissue that support the
teeth. In advanced cases the teeth eventually become loose
and have to be removed
The foremost goal of treatment of gum diseases
is to control infection. The type of treatment varies, according
to the extent of gum disease. Any type of treatment requires
the patient to keep good daily oral hygiene at home. Moreover,
modifying certain behaviors, such as quitting tobacco use,
might also be recommended as a way to get better treatment
results.
Treatment:
Non-surgical treatment:
Scaling and Root Planing : Professional cleaning
means scraping off the tartar from above and below the gum
line of teeth, and Root planing gets rid of irregular spots
on the tooth root where the germs collect, and helps remove
bacteria that contribute to the gum diseases.
Oral Hygiene Instructions - proper brushing,
flossing, inter-dental brushing.
Medications - are used to destroy the microbes
that cause Periodontitis or hold back the destruction of the
tooth's attachment to the bone. In some cases, a dentist will
recommend a mouth rinse containing a chemical called chlorhexidine
to help control plaque deposition. There are also antibiotic
gels, fibers or chips, which are directly applied to the infected
pocket.
Splinting – for mobile teeth
Coronoplasty – for correcting any traumatic
bite
Surgical
treatment:
Curettage - Scraping away of the diseased
gum tissue in the infected pocket, this allows the infected
area to heal and gums to become firmer.
Periodontal flap surgery - Surgery might
be needed if inflammation and deep pockets remain after treatment
with deep cleaning and medications. The flap surgery involves
lifting back the gums and removing the tartar deposited in
deep pockets. The gums are then sewn back in place so that
the tissue fits snugly around the tooth. This method reduces
the pocket and areas where bacteria grow and make it easier
for the patient to keep the area clean.
Bone grafts - used to restore bone lost due
to Periodontitis. Small fragments of your own bone, synthetic
bone, or donated bone are placed where bone was lost. These
grafts serve as a platform for the re-growth of bone, which
stabilizes the teeth.
GTR (Guided Tissue Regeneration) - It stimulates
bone and gum tissue growth. In combination with flap surgery,
a small piece of mesh-like fabric is inserted between the
bone and gum tissue. This keeps the gum tissue from growing
into the area where the bone should be, allowing the bone
and connective tissue to re-grow and support the teeth. Bone
grafts may or may not be used in combination.
Soft tissue grafts - reinforce thin gums
to fill the space where the gums have receded.
Bone (Osseous) Surgery -- it is smoothening of shallow craters
in the bone due to moderate or severe bone loss. During the
flap surgery, the bone around the tooth is reshaped to decrease
the craters, this makes it difficult for bacteria to gather
and grow.
Gingivectomy/Gingivoplasty – To correct
gum contour
| 
Tender, swollen, or red gums 
Brush
your teeth twice a day