How to treat gum periodontal disease at home. Periodontal disease: how to save teeth and what medications help. Therapeutic toothpastes and anti-inflammatory gels

One of the most unpleasant dental problems and the enemy of an open, beautiful smile is. His main cunning lies in the fact that at the initial stage he practically does not reveal himself at all. Usually, unpleasant sensations come much later, when the destructive process of bone tissue has already started, and problems with the gums or teeth have appeared. As a result, valuable time is lost, which could be used for good, to prevent the development of periodontal disease and eliminate its consequences. In addition, you can treat periodontal disease very effectively and independently, the main thing is to make the correct diagnosis. So how to treat periodontal disease at home, what methods are the most effective?

Eliminating the causes of periodontal disease

The first step in the fight against periodontal disease is to eliminate the causes of its occurrence. The following factors can provoke the development of this dental disease:

• insufficient oral hygiene (toothpaste, tooth powder, dental floss, rinses, or at least chewing gum after meals are required);
• plaque, tartar (you need to get rid of them regularly);
• ignoring dental problems (visiting a dentist once every six months is an immutable rule!);
• decreased immunity;
• genetic predisposition;
• diseases of internal organs.

Of course, not everything can be fixed, but what can be done must be done.

Treatment of periodontal disease at home

Periodontal disease can be treated at home independently in the following areas:

• treatment using traditional medicines.
• use of a rich arsenal of traditional medicine methods.
• homeopathic preparations.
• vitamin and mineral supplements.

Medications to combat periodontal disease at home

• Toothpaste for periodontal disease, which contains natural herbal components (chamomile, nettle, sage, St. John's wort, etc.) and medical components: to combat tartar - potassium tetrapyrophosphate; to reduce the sensitivity threshold of teeth - sodium citrate, potassium nitrate, strontium chloride.
• Ointments, gels and balms based on heparin, lidocaine, propolis and other active substances with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic and antimicrobial properties: "Cholisal", "Metrogil Denta", "Kamistad", "Asepta".
• Aerosol "Hexoral". Its antimicrobial effect is excellent not only for the treatment of throat diseases, but also for periodontitis.
• Mouth rinses “Forest Balsam”, “Green Pharmacy”, “Colgate”, etc.
• Hydroperite. Rinse your mouth with a solution (1 tablet per 1 glass of water - dissolve).

Treatment of periodontal disease with folk remedies

Traditional medicine offers a huge selection of drugs and methods for the treatment of periodontal disease, so choosing the best recipes for yourself will not be difficult. Here are just a few of the most popular and effective.

• Sauerkraut. You need to chew the cabbage slowly and for a long time and rinse your teeth with the juice.
• Salt (regular kitchen or sea salt). Massage the gums with fine salt or strong saline solution. Can be combined with baking soda.
• Calamus infusion: infuse 0.5 cups of dried calamus roots plus 0.5 liters of vodka and rinse your mouth.
• Propolis infusion: infuse 20 g of propolis plus 0.5 liters of vodka and rinse your mouth.
• Plantain. In summer, you need to chew freshly picked plantain leaves two to three times a day.
• Decoctions of herbs for rinsing: chamomile, oak bark, burnet, calendula, St. John's wort, etc.
• Hydrogen peroxide. Rinse your teeth and massage your gums.

Homeopathy remedies in the fight against periodontal disease

Additional treatment in the fight against periodontal disease. The action of homeopathy is designed to eliminate such unpleasant symptoms of periodontal disease as:

• loose teeth;
• bleeding or loose gums;
• increased salivation;
• bad breath.

Homeopathic medicines are selected individually, but there are several types that can be freely (without a doctor’s prescription) purchased at the pharmacy:

• "Acidum nitricum 6";
• "Phosphorus 6";
• "Iodium 6";
• "Natrium carbonicum 6";
• "Silicea 6".

Vitamins for periodontal disease

You can use any vitamin-mineral complex, but it is desirable that the following components be present:

• vitamin B1, B6, B12, C, A, E;
• folic acid;
• beta-carotene;
• quercetin;
• zinc, calcium, selenium.

Prevention of periodontal disease

Periodontal disease is a disease that is easier to prevent than to treat. Therefore, it is worth adhering to a few simple rules, especially since these measures will help avoid other dental problems.

• Toothbrush. There are special brushes to combat the problem of periodontal disease, which are also designed to massage the gums. The correct brush should consist of soft bristles. By the way, every 3-6 months the brush must be changed.
• Toothpaste. Choose a special paste that contains natural ingredients and does not contain abrasive particles.
• Gum massage - improves blood circulation. You can use special gels or oils (essential, vegetable, for example, sea buckthorn or fir). Massage can be done with your fingers or using an irrigator (a device for cleaning gum pockets and interdental spaces).

Mouth rinse. You can buy ready-made tinctures or make your own, and rinse your teeth after every meal or even a simple snack.

Diet. Plays an important role. If possible, sweets and carbonated drinks should be avoided. Fermented milk products are very helpful for periodontal disease because they contain a lot of calcium. It is worth chewing more solid food, fresh vegetables, fruits, biting off small pieces and chewing them thoroughly (an excellent massage for the gums and a natural cleaner of dental plaque!).

Appointment at the dentist

If there are any changes in teeth or discomfort in the oral cavity, you should consult a dentist or periodontist. You cannot diagnose yourself, much less self-medicate. Only a doctor, after an examination, will make a final verdict and help you decide on treatment methods at home.

In addition, it is advisable to visit the dentist to correct treatment procedures and observations: are there any positive changes, should the procedures be continued, should new medications be introduced, etc.

Periodontal disease is not as common a disease as gingivitis and periodontitis: it occurs only in 3-10% of people and does not develop in one day, month or even year.

It takes 10-15 and even 20 years for a clear clinical picture, so its course is always chronic. Periodontal disease can be mild, moderate or severe. The degree of severity can only be determined by a doctor by taking an x-ray and measuring the amount of root exposure.

How to treat periodontal disease correctly? Let's figure out what periodontal disease is and how to treat it using modern dental developments. We will learn how to get rid of the disease using traditional medicine, what measures are needed to prevent this disease, and which specialist should be consulted.

Causes

The causes of periodontal disease are not precisely established; it is believed that hereditary predisposition plays an important role. Often occurs with systemic diseases, diabetes mellitus and other disorders of the endocrine glands, with chronic diseases of internal organs (,), as well as bone lesions (osteopenia).

It is believed that the cause of periodontal disease is insufficient blood supply to the gum tissue, which in severe, advanced cases leads to its atrophy and, as a consequence, to tooth loss.

Symptoms of periodontal disease

The disease begins with thinning of the bone tissue of the dental alveoli, resulting in their atrophy. Radiologically, this is manifested by a decrease in bone marrow spaces, the appearance of a fine-mesh bone pattern, a decrease in the volume of bone tissue between the teeth, and foci of osteoporosis.

Following the bone changes, changes appear on the gums - they begin to thin out, sag, exposing the roots of the tooth. At the same time, teeth become sensitive to chemical and temperature factors.

Generally The following symptoms are typical for periodontal disease::

1. Minor plaque on teeth;
2. Partial exposure of the dental necks (sometimes with increased sensitivity in these places);
3. The gums are pale in color;
4. The presence of itching in the gums;
5. The necks of the teeth are exposed without the formation of gum pockets and without the accumulation of pus in them (that is, without an inflammatory process).

Periodontal disease develops very slowly and at first it doesn’t reveal itself at all. Conventionally, 3 stages of the disease can be distinguished:

1. Asymptomatic development of pathology. Changes occur in the periodontal tissues. Typically, destructive processes are not accompanied by pain or discomfort.
2. Slow movement of teeth. Gum dystrophy leads to the neck of teeth showing through the gums. There is a gradual increase in the gaps between the teeth. The sensitivity of teeth and gums to external irritants increases.
3. Impaired fixation of teeth, their instability, possible loss. Until this point, periodontal disease “grows” in 10-15 years.

The earlier periodontal disease is detected, the more effective and painless the treatment will be.

Periodontal disease: photo

What periodontal disease looks like, a photo of the clinical manifestations of the disease is presented below.

Diagnostics

When making a diagnosis, the dentist relies primarily on the clinical picture of periodontal disease, which includes all of the above symptoms, as well as the patient’s complaints.

In the clinic, the most important sign by which the stage of the disease, further treatment and prognosis can be determined is alveolar process atrophy. In order to determine the degree of atrophy, a visual examination is usually not enough. The dentist prescribes an additional examination - radiography. The image clearly shows the degree of resorption of the bones that support the teeth.

Treatment of periodontal disease

Treatment of periodontal disease is carried out by a periodontist and should be aimed at restoring the gingival junction, while during the treatment of periodontal disease it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the patient, concomitant diseases and age. Thus, in the group of older patients with periodontal disease, pathologies of the cardiovascular system, endocrine diseases and metabolic disorders are often present.

Treatment regimen for periodontal disease provides the following manipulations:

1. Primary inspection.
2. X-ray photo, other diagnostic studies.
3. Removal of dental plaque and stone.
4. General and local pharmacotherapy - the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins, hormonal agents.
5. Physiotherapeutic treatment – ​​activation of blood supply to the gums.
6. Sanitation of the oral cavity – treatment of caries, removal of damaged teeth and roots.
7. Splinting – reducing the mobility of loose teeth.
8. Surgery.
9. Prosthetics.

Thus, the dentist will carry out treatment aimed at improving the health of the oral cavity and preventing infection, inflammatory processes and other diseases from occurring in the mouth and spreading throughout the body. However, to exclude the opposite effect (deterioration of the condition of teeth and periodontal tissue as a result of internal malfunctions in the body), regular monitoring and treatment of the underlying disease is necessary.

How to treat periodontal disease at home

When we talk about periodontal disease, treatment at home with folk remedies is only possible in parallel with treatment in a dental clinic. According to reviews, complex therapy gives the fastest and most effective results.

We will present to you the most effective and well-founded folk recipes that our grandparents used:

1. Well proven folk treatment of periodontitis with salt. After just three treatments, the symptoms of periodontal disease will become significantly less severe. With the help of fine salt or a strong saline solution, massage the gums. Massage is performed until all the ichor comes out of the gums. Then the mouth is rinsed with a solution of hydroperite, consisting of 1 tablet of hydroperite and a glass of water.
2. Treatment of periodontal disease at home can be carried out with the help of common sauerkraut. Cabbage should be chewed for a long time, and rinse your mouth with cabbage juice. In just 7 days you will feel significant relief.
3. Dried lingonberry leaves, an amount of six grams, you need to pour a glass of boiling water and boil for about 20 minutes. Strain and cool at room temperature and rinse your mouth with the resulting decoction at least 5 times a day.
4. This is a very effective folk remedy for dental treatment. Calamus penetrates into the roots of teeth and anesthetizes them, and propolis fills all microcracks. Take half a liter of 40% vodka and add half a glass of calamus roots. This is the first infusion. To prepare the second, take another half liter of 40% vodka and add 15–20 grams of crushed propolis. Both infusions need to be infused for 7-10 days. Both tinctures are used simultaneously. Mix one tablespoon of calamus tincture and a teaspoon of propolis tincture. Rinse your mouth with this mixture for 2-3 minutes. The procedure is done before bedtime, or can be done during severe pain. After 1–3 days, the pain will completely go away. The duration of treatment is 3–5 weeks.
5. If you want to cure periodontal disease with folk remedies, you can use alcoholic extract of propolis. To do this, dilute 20 drops of propolis tincture in 1 glass (200 g) of water. Used for rinsing the mouth.

Another way to take a periodontal medicine internally is to use hydrogen peroxide. You can also add a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide to toothpaste or wipe your gums with a solution diluted in water. The most important thing in treating periodontal disease with hydrogen peroxide is not to overdo it in dosage:

1. One drop of hydrogen peroxide per 50 ml of water: taken half an hour before meals or 2 hours after meals and no more than 3 times a day. If there are no side effects within 1-3 days, then the course of treatment can be extended to 10 days.
2. To wipe the gums: no more than 10 drops of hydrogen peroxide per 50 ml of water.
3. General recommendation: no more than 30 drops of peroxide diluted in water per day.

Honey is also successfully used from beekeeping products: it is rubbed into the gums (honey and salt are taken by weight in a ratio of 2:1 and mixed until the salt is completely dissolved). Rub this mixture onto your gums (use a soft toothbrush or wrap a small dose (like a prison) in a small cloth.

Prevention

If we talk about the prevention of the occurrence of pathological changes in periodontal disease, the main measure to prevent the disease is timely and high-quality treatment of common diseases described in the section on the causes of periodontal disease.

In addition, complete sanitation of the oral cavity is also important, that is, regular visits to the dentist, removal of dental plaque, treatment of caries, gingivitis, periodontitis and other similar ailments.

From this article you will learn:

• What is the difference between periodontal disease and periodontitis?
• causes and symptoms of its development,
• how to treat periodontal disease at home and at the dentist.

The article was written by a dentist with more than 19 years of experience.

Periodontal disease is a disease of the gums, which is based on the process of sclerosis of blood vessels, which leads to a decrease in the supply of oxygen and nutrients, and as a result, there is a slow degeneration of all periodontal tissues (i.e., the bone tissue around the tooth, periodontal fibers attaching the tooth to bones, as well as soft tissues of the gums).

Typically, patients incorrectly use the term “periodontal disease” to refer to any existing gum disease. In fact, periodontal disease is a fairly rare disease, and the majority of patients who complain about problems in the gums are not diagnosed with periodontal disease, but real one.

Periodontal disease: photos of teeth and gums

You can very easily check whether you have periodontitis or periodontal disease - the symptoms of the latter are a gradual decrease in the height of the gums and exposure of the roots of the teeth, which occurs due to the gradual process of sclerosis and dystrophy - usually in the absence of any inflammation in the gums. In turn, the presence of bleeding and soreness of the gums when brushing, swelling and redness of the gums indicates the presence of inflammation in the gums, i.e. about Periodontitis.

Periodontal disease: causes and treatment

As we said above, the causes of periodontal disease are the gradual sclerosis of blood vessels (capillaries), which leads to a narrowing of their lumen and thickening of the walls. As a result of these processes, the amount of oxygen and nutrients necessary for the normal functioning of periodontal tissues also decreases, which leads to irreversible dystrophy of absolutely all tissues around the teeth.

The process of neurotissue dystrophy begins with the processes of sclerosis of the bone tissue around the teeth. At later stages, the process already captures the soft tissues of the gums, periosteum, as well as periodontal fibers, due to which the tooth is attached to the bone tissue. If you look at the tissue level, then all these processes occur by replacing the connective tissue with simple fibrous fibers, which leads to a dense fibrous fusion of the gums with the periosteum, the periosteum with the bone.

At the same time, due to the increase in fibrous tissue in the periodontal fibers, a dense fusion of the tooth with the bone occurs, which causes a decrease or disappearance of a slight physiological mobility of the teeth (which is present in all healthy teeth and is necessary for the distribution of chewing pressure). Sclerosis of bone tissue leads to its gradual atrophy, which is visually manifested by a decrease in the height of the gums and exposure of the roots of the teeth. When bone tissue atrophy reaches 1/2–2/3 of the length of the roots of the teeth, an inflammatory component associated with a traumatic chewing load on the teeth usually joins.

Diagnostic radiography –

If in periodontitis inflammatory loss of bone tissue occurs with the formation of periodontal pockets, then in periodontal disease (unless, of course, there is traumatic premature biting on some teeth), there is a uniform horizontal loss of bone tissue in the area of ​​all teeth. At the same time, in the picture, the bone tissue always has foci of sclerosis (small-mesh structures with intense enlightenment).

The diagnosis of periodontal disease is made on the basis of a visual examination and diagnostic. When bone tissue decreases to 1/3 of the length of the teeth, a mild form of periodontal disease is diagnosed. When the bone height decreases to 1/2 the length of the tooth roots, the severity is moderate, and when the height is more than 2/3, the severity is severe. Tooth mobility usually occurs only in moderate to severe forms of the disease, which greatly complicates the treatment of periodontal disease and may require dental splinting.

Thus, periodontal disease is characterized by –

X-ray signs of osteosclerosis,

uniform reduction in the height of interdental septa (in the absence of periodontal pockets),

narrowing of the periodontal gap in the area of ​​all teeth,

sclerosis of dental cavities,

absence of pathological abrasion of tooth crowns,

in moderate-severe forms, there may additionally be sclerosis of the mental foramina and mandibular canals (which is expressed in the narrowing of their lumen), as well as dystrophic changes in the temporomandibular joints.

Making a final diagnosis –

From time to time situations arise when it is difficult to make a diagnosis. Those. X-ray of the patient looks like periodontal disease, but there is inflammation in the oral cavity at the gingival margin. Such situations arise in patients with periodontal disease against the background of deteriorating oral hygiene. In this case, against the background of the accumulation of soft plaque and tartar on the teeth, symptoms develop, i.e. swelling and bleeding of the gingival margin appears.

At the same time, ultrasonic cleaning of teeth from plaque and stone, plus teaching the patient about proper hygiene, quickly returns the situation in the oral cavity to a state typical of classic periodontal disease. At the same time, important radiological criteria that allow us to speak even in these cases about periodontal disease, and not about periodontitis, are the absence of periodontal pockets in the image, as well as the presence of foci of bone tissue sclerosis.

Periodontal disease: treatment at home and at the dentist

If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, the symptoms and treatment will be interrelated, etc. This disease is based on the phenomena of vascular sclerosis and bone tissue degeneration - the main methods of treatment will be physiotherapy and drug therapy, aimed primarily at stimulating blood circulation in the gums. In addition, selective grinding of the contacts between the lower and upper teeth is carried out, and at the first symptoms of mobility, teeth are splinted with crowns or fiberglass.

Treatment of periodontal disease at home is limited only to the use of finger massage of the gums, the use of special gels for the gums and toothpastes, as well as the ingestion of various vitamins, antioxidants and some other drugs (we will discuss them below). All other treatment will involve professional dental care in a physiotherapy office.

1. Finger massage of gums –

Finger massage of the gums for periodontal disease is carried out every day, in the morning after brushing your teeth. The direction of movement of the fingers should coincide with the direction of lymph flow in this area, i.e. you should make circular massaging movements, which should gradually move from the front teeth - towards the chewing teeth. The procedure time is 3-5 minutes for each jaw. In addition to this massage, you can periodically (several times a year) conduct physiotherapy courses.

The massage can be done without everything, or using one of the special gels that additionally stimulate blood circulation in the gums. For example, it can be in the form of a gel containing propolis (a bee product). This gel can also be used without massage, simply applying it to the gum margin after brushing your teeth in the morning and evening. However, it should be noted that you will not be able to cure periodontal disease at home only with finger massage and gum gel.

An important point is that gum massage cannot be performed against the background of gum inflammation (with swelling, redness or severe cyanosis of the gums, as well as in the presence of deep periodontal pockets and subgingival dental plaque). Otherwise, an intensification of the inflammatory reaction and the development of purulent abscesses in the projection of periodontal pockets is possible.

2. Physiotherapy for periodontal disease –

There is a large list of physiotherapeutic methods for treating gum periodontal disease - these are electrophoresis, phonophoresis, vacuum massage, vibration vacuum massage, magnetic therapy, diadynamic currents, laser therapy. The problem is that not even every dental clinic has its own physiotherapy department, and residents of large cities are luckier here (especially where there are university dental clinics at medical universities).

For example, in Moscow there is a large department of physiotherapy for periodontal diseases at the state clinic TsNIIS (Central Research Institute of Dentistry). You can get a referral for physical therapy from your dentist. Next, we will talk in detail about some of the main physiotherapeutic techniques that are used for periodontal disease...

• Heparin electrophoresis and phonophoresis –
  Heparin has a significant therapeutic effect for periodontal disease, because it has the ability to reduce tissue hypoxia, normalizing the oxygen balance of tissues, microcirculation and transport of substances between blood and tissues. Heparin electrophoresis is carried out according to the usual method: make gauze pads from a sterile bandage under each electrode, soak each pad - first with 1.0 ml of distilled water, then from a syringe - 1 ml of heparin solution. The concentration of heparin in 1.0 ml of solution should be 5000 units.

  Electrodes with gauze pads are placed on the gingival edge of the alveolar process of the jaws, while the electrodes are carefully isolated from saliva with cotton rolls. Heparin is always administered from the cathode only. The duration of the procedure is from 12 to 15 minutes. The course of treatment is 10-12 procedures (in a row, daily). In addition, heparin can be successfully introduced into periodontal tissue not only by electrophoresis, but also using the phonophoresis technique on the Ultrasound T-5 apparatus. The duration of the phonophoresis procedure is about 7-10 minutes.

• Vacuum massage –
  This method is tens and hundreds of times more effective than regular gum massage, which you can do at home. Vacuum massage is carried out using a special Kulazhenko vacuum apparatus or similar devices in a physiotherapy room. This massage leads to the destruction of part of the capillaries, which is accompanied by the release of histamine, which tends to stimulate blood circulation.

  Even more effective is the creation of vacuum hematomas along the transitional fold during vacuum massage of the gums. For this, the pressure is set to 1 atmosphere, and the nozzle of the device must be held in one place for 30 to 60 seconds - until a hematoma of 4-5 mm in size is formed. During one visit, you can do no more than 5-6 such hematomas (a full course - 8-12 procedures, with breaks between procedures - 3-5 days). This method further stimulates metabolic processes and blood supply to the gums.

• Laser Application –
  The use of a helium-neon laser for periodontal disease is aimed at enhancing tissue trophism, metabolic processes, and blood circulation. The course of treatment is usually 12-15 sessions, and is carried out several times a year. A single laser exposure should not exceed 20 minutes.

3. Drug therapy for periodontal disease –

There are several groups of drugs that can be effective in increasing blood circulation and reducing hypoxia in periodontal tissues. These may be antioxidants, anabolic steroids, the use of certain vascular drugs that stimulate peripheral circulation.

1) Application of antioxidants –
clinical studies have shown that sclerosis of blood vessels in periodontal tissues leads to a significant decrease in oxygen delivery to the gums and the development of hypoxia, which triggers the process of sclerosis of bone tissue. Therefore, a number of drugs to stimulate oxygenation can be very useful. These drugs include substances with antioxidant properties. First of all, this can be vitamin E, as well as vitamins A, C, P and group B.

2) Use of anabolic steroids –
the use of this group of drugs is justified primarily in men, because drugs have an androgenic effect. In women, this may result in a deepening of the voice and menstrual irregularities, which disappears only with discontinuation of the drug. In addition, the prescription of this group of drugs should always be preceded by a consultation with a therapist and endocrinologist regarding the absence of contraindications. The drug "Retabolil" is prescribed at a dose of 25-30 mg IM, only once every 3 weeks (the full course of treatment is about 5-7 injections).

3) Application of Trental –
the possibilities of increasing blood circulation in periodontal tissues are limited by the limits of the ability of blood vessels to expand, and with significant sclerotic changes in blood vessels in periodontal tissues, physiotherapeutic effects on the gums alone are no longer enough. In this regard, in case of moderate to severe periodontal disease, it also makes sense to prescribe drugs for the treatment of blood microcirculation disorders.

5. Splinting of mobile teeth –

How to use dental floss and brush correctly -

Also, can be used for oral hygiene and gum massage in patients with periodontal disease. Such a device allows not only to rinse hard-to-reach areas of the oral cavity (for example, rinsing spaces under dental bridges), but also to massage the gums due to the action of a pulsating water jet. Instead of ordinary water, special medicinal solutions can be used in the irrigator. We hope that our article: Periodontal disease treatment at home was useful to you!

Sources:

1. Add. professional,
2. Based on personal experience as a periodontist,
3. National Library of Medicine (USA),
4. American Academy of Periodontology (USA),
5. “Non-surgical periodontal treatment” (Roncati M.).