Laid Low By Periodontitis? Tips For Dealing With This Serious Dental Condition

Painful gums can make your whole body feel miserable, especially when they are caused by periodontitis. A common, but serious gum infection, periodontitis can cause gums to feel inflamed and painful. If not treated, periodontitis can damage the tissue of the gums and attack the bones of your jaw that provide support for your teeth. If you have been dealing with symptoms that you feel may be related to periodontitis or another dental condition or disease, the following information can be helpful in finding the solution you need. 

Start by brushing, flossing, and using an oral rinse

Brushing and flossing regularly is the basis of any good dental health regimen, but when a periodontal disease or condition is involved, these two steps alone may not be enough. Periodontitis and many other gum diseases cause gum tissue to pull away from the teeth and recede. When this occurs, small pockets can form that harbor bacteria and food particles and allow infection to form.

Simple brushing and flossing are usually not sufficient in reaching these pockets. To remedy this situation, ask your dentist to help you choose an antiseptic dental rinse that you can use after brushing and flossing to reach into any existing pockets in your gums and clear away bacteria and food particles to lessen the risk of infection. 

Create an emergency DIY rinse at home

In situations where your gums begin to feel inflamed and painful during the evening or on the weekend when your dentist is closed, you can easily create a safe DIY oral rinse at home to use until you can reach your dentist.

A simple solution made by stirring one-tablespoon of salt into one-cup of warm water until dissolved will provide a safe and effective oral rinsing solution. To use, vigorously swish some of the liquid inside your mouth. The salt helps to prevent infection and the warm water will help relieve pain and discomfort.  When using this solution, however, it is important to avoid swallowing the solution due to the high salt content. 

Avoid crunchy or difficult to chew foods

To avoid making the discomfort worse, its a good idea to avoid crunchy or hard to chew foods until you can see your dentist. Doing this will lessen the chances of tearing the tender, inflamed oral tissues and making your condition worse. 

Periodontal diseases rarely improve without the attention of a dental professional. If you are experiencing gum pain and discomfort, call for an appointment with a trusted periodontist or dental care professional as soon as possible.