To find out if it is periodontitis, you should take into account the signs and symptoms presented and perform tests that can identify the health of the teeth and also the bone structure of the jaw.
The signs of this disease can take years to manifest and its progression is slow, which can make it difficult to adhere to treatment. But performing the treatment to control inflammation and bone loss is necessary to prevent loss of teeth, as they cannot be replaced, making it difficult for the person to eat.
Symptoms of Periodontitis
Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the gums and jaw causing the loss of teeth. Its symptoms are:
- Changes in the position of the teeth, becoming crooked; Increased tooth sensitivity when consuming cold or hot food; Bad breath, is present in all people with the disease; Pus may leak out of the gums if there is an open wound; Bleeding gums when brushing teeth and performing dental treatments such as cleaning, a procedure that usually does not cause bleeding; Red and swollen gum, when it should be colored closer to pink; Softening and falling of teeth in adulthood, without apparent cause.
Periodontitis is closely linked to tartar and must be treated quickly to avoid worsening the situation.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of periodontitis must be made by the dentist when looking at the person's teeth and gums, but any doctor may suspect the disease if they observe the reddish gum, separation of the teeth or complaints such as soft or falling teeth.
To differentiate periodontitis from gingivitis, one must observe the structure of the person's teeth, their age and factors such as whether they are pregnant, smoke or have a family history of periodontitis. Most people suffer from an episode of inflammation in the gums at least once in their life, being particularly common in women during pregnancy, due to hormonal changes, but not everyone will have periodontitis, which despite having gingivitis as a symptom, is a more serious illness, which may even require a deep gum scraping and dental surgery.
