Pyorrhea is a periodontal disease, also known as periodontitis. It begins with bacterial plaque, which accumulates between the teeth and destroys the gums.
There are several factors that can increase the likelihood of developing this disease. One of them is tobacco, as it exacerbates the damage. Another factor is anxiety, since it weakens the immune system and can worsen the diagnosis of periodontitis.
Symptoms
There are numerous symptoms that indicate the possibility of having periodontitis. The most significant is bleeding gums when brushing your teeth.
Other symptoms include:
- Receding gums. The sensation appears that the teeth are larger, because the gum hides, and the root of the teeth is visible.
- Increased interdental space. You may notice that the teeth are loose, as this disease affects the bone and the tooth’s support is insufficient.
- Dental mobility. It occurs because the gum between the teeth disappears.
- Tooth sensitivity.
- More sensitive gums.
- Inflammation of the gums.
- Halitosis.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s best to see your dentist. This will help prevent the development of severe periodontal disease.
Causes of pyorrhea
Some of the causes that can cause the appearance of this pathology are:
- Insufficient dental hygiene. It is recommended to brush your teeth three times a day, after meals. If this is not done correctly, plaque will begin to accumulate on the gums and will lead to periodontitis.
- Bad habits. Some actions such as drinking alcohol, smoking, eating certain foods, and being overweight can have negative effects on the gums.
- Some illness. Diabetes, AIDS or osteoporosis are some of the diseases that damage the gums.
- Genetic predisposition. If you have direct relatives with this pathology, the probability of having it is greater.
- Not visiting the dentist regularly. Ideally, you should visit your dentist once a year for a professional cleaning, but if you don’t, plaque can build up excessively and cause disease.
To prevent these types of diseases, healthy lifestyle habits are essential. Regular physical activity and a balanced diet will help protect your gums.
Contagion
This disease is only contagious under specific circumstances. For it to occur, in addition to the bacteria attacking the gums, the infected person must also have another contributing factor, such as poor habits, inadequate dental hygiene, or a genetic predisposition.
This bacteria is not airborne; transmission requires physical contact. The primary means of transmission, and therefore of the disease, is prolonged kissing.
Treatment
Once a diagnosis of periodontitis is confirmed, a periodontist should be consulted for treatment to cure the disease. The treatment will depend on the severity of the periodontitis.
Initially, a dental cleaning, including root planing, would suffice. Additionally, antibiotics will be necessary to eliminate the infection.
Surgery is used as a last resort, and is only performed when other treatments have failed. This surgery involves lifting the gum tissue to remove any tartar and periodontal pockets that may remain in the mouth.
