Gum medication
There are a variety of treatments for gum disease depending on the stage of disease, how you may have responded to earlier treatments, and your overall health.
Treatments range from non-surgical therapies that control bacterial growth to surgery to restore supportive tissues.
The main goal of treatment is to control your infection. Your dentist will look at what’s affected to figure out where to start
One of the methods of bacterial control is Medication. Honestly there is no magic pill or cream that can cure gum disease. Still, your dentist may prescribe medication as part of your treatment.
Antibiotic treatments can be used either in combination with surgery and other therapies, or alone, to reduce or temporarily eliminate the bacteria associated with gum disease or suppress the destruction of the tooth’s attachment to the bone.
Some medication treatment options for gum disease include:
Containing chlorhexidine (CHX) or hexetidine are available over the counter (OTC) from pharmacies.
But there’s some debate about whether using mouth wash is necessary for people with healthy gums.
Mouthwashes cannot remove existing plaque. Only regular tooth brushing and flossing can do it.
Your dentist may recommend using mouthwash if it helps control the build-up of plaque, the sticky substance that forms when bacteria collects on the surface of your teeth.
Your dentist will be able to advise you about which type of
Mouthwash is most suitable and how to use it.
Chlorhexidine mouthwash can stain your teeth brown if you use it regularly.
Chlorhexidine (marketed as the prescription – only brands Peridex, periochip, perioGard, and by numerous other over-the-counter trade names) is an anti-microbial used to control plaque and gingivitis in the mouth or in periodontal pockets.
The medication is available as a mouth rinse or as gel.
You should not use a CHX mouthwash for longer than 4 weeks.
This is a small piece of gelatin that is filled with chlorhexidine. It controls bacteria and reduce periodontal packet size. It is placed in the pockets after root planning. The medication is slowly released over time (about 7 days).
Very small particles containing minocycline, an antibiotic, are placed into pockets in your gum after scaling and root planning and they release medication slowly over time (about 7 days) to help reduce the size of the pocket and get rid of bacteria.
This gel contains doxycycline, an antibiotic. It helps control bacteria and shrink periodontal pockets. It is placed in the pockets after scaling and root planning. It is a slow-release medication.
This keeps destructive enzymes in check with a low- dose of doxycycline. Some enzymes can break down gum tissue but this medication can delay the body’s enzyme response. It is taken orally, as a pill, and it is used with scaling and root planing.
Available in capsule or tablet form, these are taken orally. They are used short-term for the treatment of acute or locally persistent periodontal infection.
Some non-prescription tooth pastes that are marked as antibacterial may contain fluoride and an antibiotic called Triclosan to reduce plaque and gingivitis.