How to recognize periodontitis from gingivitis?

Gingivitis and periodontitis attack your gums and teeth. The accumulation of dental plaque is generally the trigger. But this is far from being the only factor causing these two inconveniences.

MyVariations invites you to discover these diseases in this guide in order to differentiate them. You will find there in particular advice on the maintenance of gums, the appropriate treatment for each disease and various recommendations for having good oral hygiene.

Gingivitis refers to inflammation of the gums . It tells you that your tissues are suffering from the presence of bacteria. The good news is that these symptoms are very treatable!

Dental plaque is the main culprit. It is made up of acids, salivary proteins, sugars and bacteria. When the subject's hygiene is insufficient, it turns into tartar. And it is he who attacks the gums and causes their inflammation.

These symptoms also appear in people who are predisposed to this type of illness. And this, even if they brush their teeth as specialists recommend doing. Genetic factors also come into play.

Some of them directly depend on your lifestyle. Tobacco , cannabis , various medications that dry out the mouth or even hormonal changes marking puberty, pregnancy or menopause can also cause this type of inconvenience. If you obviously cannot act on some of them, others are under your control!

Good to know: there are toothpastes designed specifically for pregnant women. Their composition reduces the risk of having problems while carrying out effective cleaning. Do not hesitate to ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

When your gums are healthy, they are pale pink . If it turns red , looks swollen or irritated, it's probably because it's in pain!

Damage to these tissues is most often manifested by bleeding when brushing, as well as bad breath.

Does your gum hurt? Here are several ways to fix it.

• Effective brushing

To avoid many problems, an effective solution remains brushing . But be careful, not just anyhow! We advise you to brush your teeth at least twice a day and for a minimum of two minutes . Use circular movements to better loosen food residue.

• Using a sonic toothbrush

You can opt for a sonic toothbrush with complete peace of mind. Its high-frequency vibrations generate pressure waves that deeply clean the interdental spaces and your gum line. The risk of plaque formation and the risk of developing gum disease then decreases significantly.

Choose your brush carefully, and especially its bristles! These must be flexible . That's good ! MyVariations sonic electric toothbrushes are designed to gently care for your teeth. They are equipped with flexible soft nylon bristles, ideal for weakened gums. 🪥

Furthermore, sonic technology allows the bristles to reproduce the vertical movement of manual brushing, but at a rate of 30,000 to 40,000 micro-movements per minute! This feature ensures effective and respectful cleaning of your teeth.

• Toothpaste, mouthwash

Your toothpaste probably contains fluoride . It is a mineral that strengthens enamel and helps prevent cavities. It has antibacterial properties that reduce dental plaque.

Antimicrobial mouthwash kills bacteria. Using both strengthens your skincare routine and reduces the risk of developing illnesses.

• Interdental brushes 

Brushes and floss remove food debris and plaque from hard-to-reach areas with traditional brushing. 

• Descaling 

Descaling is essential to prevent any problems. When plaque is not completely removed, it forms tartar. A simple brushing does not allow you to eliminate it. The presence of tartar is a source of irritation for the tissues. It is sometimes the cause of your “small” inconveniences.

We recommend scaling every six months to minimize risks. We promise, we’ll get on with it too!

Periodontitis is when there is inflammation of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. These fabrics include, among others:

• Your gums;
• Your bones;
• The periodont;
• Cementum;
• Dental enamel .

All of these tissues constitute the periodontium . Infected pockets can develop between the teeth and these tissues and potentially develop into an abscess if proper care is not provided.

This disease appears following gingival recession and the formation of periodontal pockets. 

Gradually, the infection reaches the gingival margin . Be aware that at this stage, periodontitis could lead to the loss of affected teeth. 😨 Fortunately, here too, suitable treatments can help you limit the damage.

Periodontitis manifests itself in different ways:

• Painful chewing;
• Gum recession;
• Bad breath ;
• Mouth sores;
• Pain in the gums ;
• Mobile teeth;
• Sensitivity to sugar , touch, hot/cold;
• Swollen gums.

As a reminder, periodontal treatment is essentially based on:

• Stopping disease progression

• Restoration of the tissues that support the tooth;

• Regular maintenance at home;

• Reconstructive surgery.

The first step to take is to consult a health professional . Indeed, periodontitis represents an advanced tissue infection . This way, a specialist will be able to recommend the necessary care. It is important to note that in advanced stages of periodontitis, surgery is often considered as the most suitable alternative 💊

Not everyone will receive the same care. Indeed, these depend on two major factors: the stage of the disease and the state of health of the patient from a general point of view. 🩺

• Make an appointment with a specialist

A good practice is to have your teeth scaled regularly. This consists of removing the accumulation of dental plaque and tartar.

The professional can reach inaccessible areas during simple brushing. To remove plaque, he uses an ultrasonic instrument and then proceeds to polish your teeth. One session can sometimes be enough. Please note, however, that if you have a lot of tartar, several appointments may be necessary.

The doctor also examines your mouth. This way, you can ensure that you do not have cavities and that there is no further treatment to be carried out.

Note that most of the time, a complete cleaning is enough to stop the progression of periodontitis. Indeed, the complete elimination of bacteria, tartar and dental plaque once again promotes gum adhesion. This reduces the risk of loosening teeth .

Subsequently, surfacing will be done to heal the periodontal pockets.

Surfacing is generally done in two sessions under local anesthesia and with an ultrasound device or a manual curette.

• Taking an antibiotic

Do you suffer from severe or aggressive periodontitis? In this case, your specialist may prescribe antibiotic treatment . The same applies when there is a reinfection after a first treatment (case of recurrence), if you have a heart problem, or suffer from type 2 diabetes . 💉

• Periodontal surgery

Surgery is reserved for advanced periodontal disease. The form it takes varies depending on several criteria: the location of your lesions, their quantity, the depth of the periodontal pockets and your general state of health.

Several surgical techniques exist:

• Guided tissue regeneration: infected areas are cleaned. The doctor then attaches a resorbable membrane to stimulate the regeneration of the affected bone and ensure that the tissues attach to it.
• The periodontal cleaning flap allows you to reach the dental roots. The doctor scales them and eliminates all of your inflammatory lesions.
• Your doctor may recommend a gum graft. This protects the exposed and weakened parts of the tooth roots.
• Bone filling is useful if your lesions are deep or affect the interradicular spaces.

Remember that surgery is an alternative to root planing. In fact, according to studies, in 5 to 10% of cases, planing will not be enough to heal all periodontal pockets.

Note that depending on your state of health (existence of type 2 diabetes, a heart problem or during pregnancy), the care provided adapts to your situation.

Find the main differences between these two tissue diseases in the summary table below: