Pyorrhea and Bleeding gums? Cause and treatment

Many patients report to our dental clinic with bleeding gums while brushing. Such patients experience BAD breath despite brushing Twice or even Thrice a day.

Bleeding gums treatment starts with first identifying the cause of the problem. Bleeding gums or bad breath can be due to multiple reasons such as -

1. Rotten teeth

2. Poor oral hygiene

3. Gum disease /Pyorrhea / Periodontitis

While Rotten teeth is often accompanied by pain or sensitivity and poor oral hygiene is generally visible to the patient , GUM DISEASE is often a hidden problem with severe affects on the teeth. Severe Gum disease such as Pyorrhea is one of the most common cause of bleeding gums and bad bad breath.

CAUSE

Pyorrhea is caused by bacterial infection which is located deep inside the gums. Infection which is present at the TOOTH ROOT. The bacterial first cases the Gum Swelling which causes Bleeding Gums. If not treated at this stage , the infection reaches deeper in to the gums, till the bone in which the teeth are anchored, and slowly weaken the bone. This weakness leads to loosening of the affected teeth which eventually fall.

Patient reported with Gum swelling

Bleeding Gums are loose and lifted to see depth of infection

Deep under the bleeding gums, bacterial infection is visible

TREATMENT OF BLEEDING GUMS OR PYORRHEA

A PERIODONTIST is a dentist specialized in treatment of gum disease and bleeding gums. Periodontist treat patients with gum disease and bleeding gums in 3 ways -

1. Phase 1 Therapy - This part of the treatment is mainly focused to treat bleeding gums. It involves deep cleaning of the tooth surface so that all visible bacterial infections can be removed. It may take upto 2 appointments, depending upon the severity of the gum disease.

2. Minimally Invasive Periodontal Therapy (MIPT) with Laser - MIPT is an advanced approach for management of gum disease. It is performed under a microscope and with the help of Laser and MIPT instruments, TOOTH ROOT surface and gums are Cleaned and Disinfected .

The process of MIPT for treatment of bleeding gums focuses on two aspects of gum disease.

1 Cleaning the surface of the root of the tooth and make it free of hard bacterial colonies

2 Cleaning/removing the inflamed and infected POCKET LINING which in the inner side of the gums.

Both the above processes are carried out with the help of -

1. Micro curettes

2. Lasers

3. Micro surgical instruments

4. microscope

The tooth roots are slowly and steadily scrapped to remove hard bacterial colonies. As the colonies are removed , an ultrasonic machine is used to wash of the debris. Once the hard bacterial deposits are removed completely and the Root surface is glassy smooth, disinfection is done using a DENTAL LASER. The Dental Laser is effecting in treating bleeding gums and gum diseases by removing bacterial load from the inner part of the gums and disinfecting the root surface.

Once the dentist is confident that all root and gum surfaces have been disinfected an freed from bacteria, local antibiotics are used to was the site. In the end , if the gum are slightly opened , a micro suture is placed to close the wound.