Pyorrhea: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Are you experiencing bleeding gums, pain while chewing, and bad breath? Do you feel embarrassed when people turn away from you due to your bad smelling mouth? Well! Then you may be suffering from a serious condition called pyorrhoea and you need to see your dentist immediately, if not seen already.

What is Pyorrhea?

Pyorrhea is known by several names such as periodontitis, gingival disease, or periodontal disease. Pyorrhea is an oral health condition characterized by a serious infection of the gums. It results due to the continuous growth and accumulation of bacteria on teeth and gums. As the disease progresses, the bones and teeth also get damaged leading to more severe complications. However, if periodontitis disease is treated early, and proper hygiene is maintained then the damage to the teeth and bones can be stopped.

What are the Symptoms of Pyorrhea?

Periodontitis results due to poor dental hygiene. Improper oral hygiene due to irregular cleaning of your teeth or unable to reach the deeper or inner surface of the tooth may result in plaque build-up and lead to pyorrhea. The symptoms of pyorrhea usually depend on the stage of the disease and its progression. Some of the general symptoms of pyorrhoea include:

• Bleeding gums which is usually observed while brushing the teeth or flossing
• Changes in the position of your teeth or loose teeth
• Gums pulling back from the tooth surface exposing the root surfaces of your teeth.
• Swollen, red, or tender gums.
• Development of plaque or sticky film like tartar on the surface of the teeth.
• Pain accompanied while chewing food.
• The decay of tooth and tooth loss
• Bad breath or foul/metallic taste in your mouth
• Triggering of inflammation throughout your body
• Extra spaces between the teeth can be seen.

The early stages of periodontitis are usually not noticeable and your dentist will likely be the first one to notice it.

What causes periodontitis?

There are various stages of periodontitis and it usually starts when bacteria in the mouth grows and starts to multiply on your teeth. Most of these bacteria are considered to be harmless but when proper hygiene is not maintained these bacteria tend to form plaque- a sticky film like material composed of bacteria. If this condition is left untreated, then the plaque build-up can eventually advance to pyorrhea. So, it’s important to consult your dentist for pyorrhea treatment before it’s too late. Below is the detailed description of how periodontitis develops and is caused:

1. Pyorrhea symptoms may appear due to poor oral hygiene, the bacteria in your mouth proliferate and multiply to form a sticky substance known as dental plaque.
2. If the plaque is not removed in time from the surface of the tooth, it grows and deposits certain minerals on the tooth surface over time.
3. This mineral deposit formed is referred to as tartar, which promotes more bacterial growth toward the root surface of the tooth.
4. The body’s immune response is triggered by this bacterial growth leading to inflammation in your gums.
5. The inflammation in the gum of the tooth causes its disruption over time, which leads to the development of receding gums or a periodontal gap in between the gum and the root.
6. This in turn leads to severe infection where harmful anaerobic bacteria try to colonize in the formed periodontal pocket and start to multiply over there.
7. The bacterial growth is followed by the release of toxins that can damage the internal structure of the mouth like gums, teeth, and supporting jaw bone or other structures.

Risk factors that can increase the risk of periodontitis include:

• Smoking
• Diabetes especially type 2
• Overweight/obesity
• In women who are pregnant, menstruating, or have reached menopause are at higher risk of getting periodontitis due to hormonal changes that make the gums more sensitive
• HIV/Leukemia which may alter the immunity
• Medications causing dry mouth
• Hereditary reasons
• Poor nutrition and deficiency of various vitamins like vitamin C014587901*4

How is pyorrhea diagnosed?

Early stages of pyorrhea may not show any significant symptoms. Only your dentist will be able to detect any pyorrhoea symptoms during a routine dental examination. So, it’s important to visit your dental doctor on a daily basis.

During diagnosis, your oral surgeon may insert a tiny probe into your mouth to check and inspect the presence of any pockets in your gums. The dentist may also scrape a certain amount of tartar or plaque from the surface of your tooth and may recommend you to undergo a dental X-ray or refer to an expert dental surgeon.

What are treatment options available for pyorrhea treatment?

The primary pyorrhea treatment involves removing the dental plaque from the surface of the tooth/gums. The following are some treatment options recommended in pyorrhea treatment.

1. Maintaining proper Oral hygiene practices
   In order to reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth, your doctor will ask you to follow certain practices. Your dentist will advise you on how to use toothbrushes and keep your teeth and gums clean. They may also recommend you other oral hygiene products like mouthwash or water pick that can help treat pyorrhea.
   Few other tips that can keep your teeth healthy include:
   • Use of electric toothbrush to clean your tooth more effectively
   • Dental flossing once/twice a day to remove plaque.
   • Consult your dentist for tooth cleaning at least once a year
   • Quit smoking and chewing tobacco.
2. Professional cleanings
   The procedure for pyorrhea treatment involves removing excessive plaque/tartar from the tooth surface and its roots. During the procedure, your dentist will polish the teeth and try treating them with antiseptic agents like fluoride. In order to promote healing a deep cleaning of periodontal pockets is required.
3. Antibiotics
   Antibiotics may also be prescribed in some cases, to halt the progression or growth of the bacteria on the surface of the tooth. Your doctor may prescribe you these antibiotics in the form of a mouthwash, gel, oral tablet, or a capsule.
4. Follow-up appointments
   Follow-up appointments may be required every 3-6 months to evaluate treatment success. In case, the condition is not controlled your dentist may refer you to an expert surgeon or you have to undergo surgery.
5. Surgery
   Even after the pyorrhea treatment with antibiotics and cleaning, if the inflammation tends to persist then your dentist may recommend you to undergo a surgical procedure known as flap surgery. The surgery aims to remove and clean any deposits formed under your gums. During the procedure, your doctor may inject anesthesia and your gums are lifted to access the roots to be cleaned. Afterwhich, your gums are then sutured back into the place. In case of any bone loss, bone grafting surgery may be done.

What can be done to avoid dental pyorrhea?

Dental pyorrhea, also known as Periodontitis, is a common infection that damages the soft tissues as well as bones that support the tooth. Just dental hygiene routines cannot be emphasized enough to avoid the condition. Brushing & flossing regularly are the keys to healthy teeth, but a proper hygiene routine is only complete with regular visits to the dentist. Your visit to an expert dentist in Delhi will help you avoid pyorrhea and many other oral and dental issues. As per an expert dentist, to avoid the spread and aggravation of pyorrhea, there are some tips that you can follow :

• To avoid the condition, you must maintain oral hygiene well.
• Brushing and flossing your teeth is necessary at least twice a day. 
• Using soft bristles toothbrush is recommended with proper brushing technique.
• Flossing and using antiseptic mouthwash will help you to avoid pyorrhea.
• Avoid using sharp toothpicks as it can damage the gum tissue
• Improving your immune system by having healthy foods fully packed with vitamin C, calcium, and minerals. 
• A regular visit to an expert dentist in Delhi, at Samadhan Clinic, to get the oral diagnosis where professional cleaning is administered, and the dentist will regularly check for early signs and symptoms of pyorrhea.

Can dental pyorrhea be cured?

Yes, dental pyorrhea can be cured with the help of an expert dentist. The treatment options available are: 

• Oral hygiene practices 

Your dentist will give you instructions on how to reduce the bacteria in your mouth. For that, you have to keep your teeth and gums clean. Dentists will also provide you with advice on how to brush and dental floss properly and may also recommend oral hygiene products like mouthwash and water pick. 

• Professional cleaning 

During a professional cleaning at the best dental clinic, the dentist will remove plaque buildup and tartar from teeth and their roots. The dentist will then polish your teeth and treat them with fluoride. The pockets that have been formed have to be treated with deep cleaning to enable healing. A deep cleaning method known as scaling and root planning will help remove tartar and remove any rough spots on the tooth root. 

• Antibiotics 

 Dentists will prescribe antibiotics as well to help with persistent gum infections that cannot be treated with cleanings. The antibiotic is in the form of a gel, mouthwash, or oral capsule. The dental expert will advise you to have a follow-up after a week and every three to six months to assess the progress. If any periodontal pockets remain, they may recommend surgery as well. 

• Follow up appointments 

Follow-up appointments will be needed every three to six months to evaluate treatment progress and success. 

• Surgery 

It is the last treatment choice by the dentist and is recommended for inflammation in sites that cannot be cured with brushing or flossing. For that, the doctor will suggest a surgical procedure termed flap surgery to clean deposits under the gums. Anaesthesia will be used during the process, and your gums are lifted away and the roots of teeth cleaned; after the procedure, the gums will be stitched back again.

What can lead to dental pyorrhea if it is not treated in time?

Undertreated dental pyorrhea will lead to tooth loss over time. It increases the stroke risk, heart attack, and many other health problems as well. Bacteria cause the condition, and mostly occurs in people over 40 years of age. You need to know before you get pyorrhea as you first end up with gingivitis, and if left untreated, it leads to dental pyorrhea. The condition can directly result in pyorrhea, which causes pockets to develop in teeth and gums. There are many causes of pyorrhea, which, if left untreated, leads to the condition : 

• The condition typically occurs when you lack dental hygiene, or it can also be hereditary. Bacteria spread if you don’t kill or manage with mouthwash. Flossing is also necessary as it helps a lot in scraping the plaque and food particles in between the spaces of teeth. 
• Complacency is a sure killer as when you are complacent with dental habits when a coating of plaque has become tartar, then it leads to dental destruction. If left untreated, it can, in the end, lead to pyorrhea. 
• Pyorrhea is caused by the destruction of periodontal tissue or supportive tissue that keeps the teeth anchored. Improper dental hygiene kills tissue and allows bacteria and their acidic waste products to increase. 
• Diabetes increases your chances of developing pyorrhea, and this is the reason why diabetic people are asked to observe dental hygiene to save themselves from severe complications. 

Why Choose Samadhan Clinic?

Numerous clinics in Delhi offer pyorrhea treatment. You just need to go through all the factors and check the best dental clinic in Delhi. Samadhan clinic in Delhi offers the best treatment for pyorrhea. With the state of the art facilities and highly skilled and experienced surgeons around the world, the clinic delivers the best treatment options for all your dental problems. Your oral/dental surgeon will suggest the best possible treatment for your pyorrhea related problem.