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What Is Periodontal Disease?

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Posted on Sat, 29 Nov 2014
Question: I wish to understand about progression of Periodontal Disease, my current state is sensitive teeth (at gumline), receding gums with longer appearing teeth and gums that do bleed on hard brushing. I have no loose teeth, but I do have some brittle teeth (before the gum disease detected) which tend to become thinner.

I do not anticipate surgery or expensive deep cleaning as options due to cost. I have avoided regular xray to show progress, because I believe I am already too progressed for any reversal and it also costs significant.

My question:

If I don't have swelling or pain, will my receding just get to a stage the teeth start to fall out/loosen and how long does this normally take (diagnosis was 5 years ago, to which I've lost probably 3mm receding on lower teeth).
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rohit S Menon (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
maintain good oral hygiene, teeth will stay longer

Detailed Answer:
Hello Atressia.first of all thanks for approaching Healthcare magic for your query. I read through your query and I must say that there is nothing much to worry in this your present situation since you don't have pain or swelling. I suggest you should just follow proper oral hygiene instructions and maintain good hygiene like:
1) Brush twice daily
2) Do use inter dental brush to clean inter dental areas
3) Use triclosan mouthwash (good for gum diseases)
4) Visit dentist and get a gross scaling done every 6 months
5) Do salt water gargle(for getting any wound healed)
Bleeding gums will be reduced if you follow these properly.Also take vitamin tablets especially vitamin c. Besides all these keep your mind calmed and relieved from tension.Healthy body is a result of cool and happy mind. Happiness and stress free mind can relieve any disease. So I strongly suggest you to be happy..Follow all these then your teeth may stay as long as you live. Hope you have benefited something from this reply.
If you have more queries please be free to approach me.I am always happy to help you.Have a healthy day!!
Dr.Rohit S Menon
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rohit S Menon (22 minutes later)
Is there no reversing the disease ior progression if still following the triclosan mouthwash and brushing?

I do avoid the dental brush/floss because it cuts me and I have wide gaps formed between teeth from the gum retreating, so brush gets in.

My gums always bleed even following advice to brush anyway and ignore the bleeding. It is like the gums are permanently prone to bleed even with months of hard brushing to "toughen" them up.

What causes the teeth sensitivity to the tooth part now exposed below gumline...it is more to the touch (hate dental tools as feels like needle)....and food/temperature rarely affects me.

Hope you don't mind the extra questions to understand the condition.

I can accept teeth falling out eventually as they get too loose, so your words give me comfort if no infections I'm doing okay.

As you probably know - most people fear the dentist and I know the pain of those cleans (3-4 local anaesthetics).
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rohit S Menon (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
If your mind wills reversal can be possible.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX.

Nice to hear from you.

I must say that in most cases for the gumline to go back to normal(reversal of the gumline) you need to have some sort of dental intervention(surgery or deep scaling), but since you are not interested in those we can PREVENT more gum recession by maintaining good oral hygiene through oral hygiene habits(because I prefer patient's interest rather than theoretical textbook treatment).

Like I said, you can PREVENT more gum receding by maintaining good oral hygiene practice.
1) you can use soft bristle or ultra soft bristle toothbrush(it wont hurt you)
2) use interdental (unitufted) brush to clean in wide space between the teeth
3) try MODIFIED STILLMAN'S brushing technique from Youtube.(good brushing technique for those who have gumline recession)
4) sensitivity is due to the exposure of the root by recession of the gum. try using sensodyne (or any anti sensitivity toothpaste)

Follow these for 2-3 weeks you will get good results. And still if you find problems after that you just visit a periodontist and get it treated based on the clinical situation(treatment said by me is based on the symptoms said by you, in clinical situation the treatment plan may vary).

We dentists are trained for people like you to treat more with empathy and tender caring, we are not the people to be scared of. As said by me earlier be cool and calm and follow these instructions with full faith, you can even revert your gumline back to normal(mind can play great in treatment).

So be happy and cool. If you have more queries be free to ask us, I am always there to help you.

Hope you are benefited something from my reply.

Have a healthy day!!!!
Dr. Rohit S Menon
Note: Find out which dental treatment will work best for your teeth. Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Rohit S Menon

Dentist

Practicing since :2013

Answered : 565 Questions

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What Is Periodontal Disease?

Brief Answer: maintain good oral hygiene, teeth will stay longer Detailed Answer: Hello Atressia.first of all thanks for approaching Healthcare magic for your query. I read through your query and I must say that there is nothing much to worry in this your present situation since you don't have pain or swelling. I suggest you should just follow proper oral hygiene instructions and maintain good hygiene like: 1) Brush twice daily 2) Do use inter dental brush to clean inter dental areas 3) Use triclosan mouthwash (good for gum diseases) 4) Visit dentist and get a gross scaling done every 6 months 5) Do salt water gargle(for getting any wound healed) Bleeding gums will be reduced if you follow these properly.Also take vitamin tablets especially vitamin c. Besides all these keep your mind calmed and relieved from tension.Healthy body is a result of cool and happy mind. Happiness and stress free mind can relieve any disease. So I strongly suggest you to be happy..Follow all these then your teeth may stay as long as you live. Hope you have benefited something from this reply. If you have more queries please be free to approach me.I am always happy to help you.Have a healthy day!! Dr.Rohit S Menon