Medicines for Gum Disease

Also called periodontal disease, gum disease is a common condition that affects about 80 percent of adults in the U.S. in varying degrees. It ranges from a simple inflammation of the gums (commonly known as gingivitis) to a more serious gum disease that could potentially damage the jaw bone.

• Medicines for Gum Disease

Levels of Gum Disease

• Gingivitis causes the gums to be red, swollen and bleed easily. This condition can be reversed with proper dental hygiene such as regular brushing, flossing and visits to the dentist. When left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis where the gums loosen and form pockets that are easily infected, eventually destroying the gums, bones and connective tissues that support the teeth. Medications are usually recommended by a dental professional for treating different levels of gum disease.

Antimicrobial Therapy

• Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria, which grow and form colonies and clusters on the saliva, tonsils and tongue. Killing bacteria can effectively prevent or treat gum disease. Antimicrobial therapy makes use of chemicals for slowing down the growth of--- or killing the bacteria that cause periodontitis. It is the most common form of treatment for this condition. There are generally two forms of antimicrobial medications: antiseptics and antibiotics.

Antiseptics

• Antiseptics can be bought over-the-counter and are a common ingredient in household mouth rinses. They help prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease by controlling the excess growth of bacteria. Some of the common types of antiseptics include alcohol, povidone-iodine, chlorhexidine, and 0.1% sodium hypochlorite. Irrigation devices meant for use at home can also be used together with mouth rinses to better cleanse the pockets around the teeth.

Antibiotics

• Antibiotics are a more powerful form of medication used to kill off specific forms of bacteria. They can come in the form of pills to be ingested regularly for an indicated time period or directly placed on the gums in the form of a gel or powder. Depending on the specific type of bacteria to be treated, some examples of antibiotics used in treating gum disease include penicillin, tetracycline-HCL, doxycycline, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin and clindamycin. Antibiotic pills are usually recommended for acute or short-term/sudden infections only.

Surgery

• Long-term or chronic-gum infections, on the other hand, may require a more complex process called "scaling and root planing." While extremely severe cases may require periodontal surgery.

Laser Therapy

• Laser therapy is a relatively new method for killing bacteria. Dentists use laser therapy to kill the bacteria hiding behind the gum pockets around the teeth. This kind of treatment is also said to stimulate healing faster than other methods.