Three out of four adults suffer from periodontal disease when the tooth bed makes grief

Periodontitis not only damages the teeth, but can also cause life-threatening illnesses. The successful treatment protects teeth and gums and also reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke, as a recent study shows. How to prevent periodontitis and what works best in the case of acute inflammation, explains dentist Stephan Pratsch, periodontitis expert Carree Dental in Cologne.

Mr. Pratsch, which causes periodontitis?
Dentist Stephan Pratsch: If the teeth are badly cleaned, the bacteria in the mouth multiply explosively and it can lead to periodontitis. In contrast to gingivitis, the gingivitis, the entire periodontium is affected. The chronic inflammation of the dental bed causes the gums to go back over the years and in the long term damages the entire periodontium, including the jawbone.

Which health consequences are still possible?
Through the inflammatory foci in the gums, the germs can enter the bloodstream, causing diabetes, vascular calcification and heart attacks. It has been proven that people with periodontitis are particularly prone to hypertension. This can be reduced by a successful treatment of periodontitis, as demonstrated by a recent study of German hypertensive researchers of the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein.

Is there next to poor dental care other risk factors?
In addition to insufficient dental care, stress, nicotine, vitamin deficiency and metabolic diseases such as diabetes are further risk factors for chronic inflammation of the dental bed.

Is every age affected?
No, affected are almost exclusively people over 35. It is estimated that about three out of four adults in their lifetime suffer from periodontal disease - often without first knowing it.

The genes play a role?
It is clear that a predisposition can be inherited.

What are the typical symptoms?
Stephan Pratsch: Initially, the inflammation is noticeable by redness and swelling of the gums. Another alarm sign is bleeding gums when brushing your teeth. This almost always speaks for an inflammation of the dental bed, so a periodontitis.

What does the dentist do??
Stephan Pratsch: In case of periodontitis, the dentist first removes the harmful dental plaque (plaque) and then cleans the periodontal pockets. Typically, these are deeper than usual in such a disease, giving bacteria plenty of room to grow undisturbed. Therefore, they must be consistently cleaned and freed from bacteria.

How are the bacteria removed??
Stephan Pratsch: The common practice is to manually scrape away the deposits in the pockets with special tools. A method that requires considerable effort from the dentist and often feels that patients are very uncomfortable. In addition, healthy parts of the root surface are often damaged during this procedure and the gums are injured.

Is it also gentler?
Far more comfortable for both sides is the ultrasound curettage. This extremely gentle procedure saves the patient in many cases surgery. In addition, the pads in the pockets can also be removed by laser. However, the costs are not covered by the fund. Accompanying antibiotics and disinfectant mouthwashes can prevent re-infection.

How can I protect myself?
A fundamental problem lies in the early diagnosis: Due to its slow and initially painless course of the periodontal disease usually remains inconspicuous and is therefore often recognized very late - especially if the patients do not come regularly to prevent. Also important for prevention is thorough dental care. Thoroughly clean the hard-to-reach molars with a toothbrush, floss and interdental brushes. Because here accumulates experience, a lot of plaque. (Pm)