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Teeth Flossing

The use of dental floss is important for the cleaning of the areas between teeth (interdental cleaning) and under the gum line. These are areas where the toothbrush bristles can't reach and clean. For this reason we have to floss our teeth at least once a day in addition to toothbrushing.

Other Interdental Cleaning Tools

In addition to dental floss we can use other interdental cleaning tools such as small interdental brushes or devices like WaterPik. These are especially useful for patients with dental bridges, tooth implants or dental braces.

Mouthwash

Mouthwashes or mouthrinses can be used complementary of brushing and flossing. Although their most common use is for freshening the breath, some contain fluoride and antimicrobial agents to increase teeth protection. In any case, it must be clear that the use of mouthwashes can NOT substitute regular brushing and flossing of teeth.

Text 2. Antibiotics and gum disease

Antimicrobial treatment is a non-surgical periodontal disease treatment, commonly used to fight gum disease by either inhibiting bacterial growth or/and by killing harmful bacteria. Antiseptics which stop the growth of bacterial plaque are usually used as a preventative measure to reduce the risk of developing periodontal disease or treating early stages of gingivitis. Antibiotics which kill bacteria are prescribed by dentists for the treatment of dental abscesses and periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease.

How antimicrobial treatment of gum disease works?

Gum disease is caused by the action of dental plaque bacteria. The toxins produced by bacteria cause initially the inflammation of the gums and, if not treated, the infection of periodontal tissues results in loss of bone and connective tissues that keep teeth in place and finally in tooth loss. The purpose of antimicrobial treatment is to decrease the amount of bacteria in the mouth that cause periodontal disease.

Antiseptics which are mainly used for prevention and mild gingivitis have bacteriostatic action. They suppress the metabolism of bacteria cells inhibiting or slowing down the growth of dental plaque. Antibiotics have bactericidal action; they work by killing bacteria. Antibiotic therapy is used for the treatment of advanced periodontitis.

However, antimicrobial therapy alone is not enough for eliminating dental plaque or treating gum disease. The preventive action of antiseptics is effective only if combined with daily oral hygiene. Antibiotics can not provide treatment of periodontal disease unless used in conjunction with tooth scaling and root planing and/or surgical gum disease treatments. They are also prescribed for acute types of periodontal disease such as aggressive juvenile periodontitis and acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG).

Types of antimicrobial treatment for gum disease

Dentists prescribe or use different types of antibacterial therapy depending on the type and stage of gum disease. Antimicrobial medications may be topically applied to a specific area of the mouth, taken internally as a pill or a liquid, or applied in the form of a toothpaste or a mouth rinse.

The type of antibiotic treatment that is more suitable for each case depends upon the types of bacteria in the patient’s mouth. For this reason, sometimes a dentist may take a sample from the infected area and send it to a lab in order to determine the exact type of the harmful bacteria and prescribe the most effective antibiotic for the treatment of periodontal disease.

Different forms of antimicrobial medications include: