Periodontal diseases are diseases which affects one or more of the periodontal tissues (i.e. alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, cementum and gingiva). The most common of these disease are the plaque-induced inflammatory conditions gingivitis and periodontitis.
Diagnosis
Unlike most regions of the body, the oral cavity is perpetually populated by pathogenic microorganisms. The oral cavity contains over 500 different microorganisms, making it hard to distinguish exactly which is responsible for a periodontal periodontal condition.
Treatment
Treatment begins with the removal of sub-gingival calculus (tartar) and bacterial biofilm deposits using procedures called scaling and root planing, where calculus is removed by mechanically scraping it from tooth surfaces.
Most bacteria that cause periodontal disease are anaerobic, and oxygenation reduces populations. Thorough brushing with dilute hydrogen peroxide, either with a toothbrush or with a water pick, as well as flossing can help prevent the formation of harmful biofilm, gingivitis, and tartar.
