Diagnosis
The cause of this symptom should be clarified before starting treatment for pain in the gum area. In the course of this an extensive screening must be carried out. The screening of patients with gum or periodontal pain includes both the assessment of the current tooth status and the evaluation of the individual components of the periodontal apparatus.
In order to be able to make a meaningful statement about the condition of the gums, the treating dentist measures the depth of any pockets in the gums. This measurement can be made in two different ways. The simpler, but much less accurate measuring method is the so-called periodontal screening index (short: PSI).
With this method, representative pocket depths are measured in each quadrant. The much more comprehensive but more accurate measuring method is the collection of pocket depths at six points around each individual tooth. In both methods, the dentist inserts a narrow, scaled probe into a gap between the tooth substance and the gum.
For the patient, the collection of the pocket depths should generally be completely painless. In addition, the function of the gums and the periodontium is not negatively affected in any way. In patients with pronounced pain in the gums and demonstrably increased pocket depths, a special microbial test can be carried out for precise germ determination. In addition, a general view of the jaw (orthopanthomogram; abbreviated: OPG) should be made for these patients as a matter of urgency.The OPG serves the dentist as an aid in assessing the condition of the bone structures involved.
Prophylaxis
The prophylaxis (prevention) of gum pain includes improving oral hygiene and participating in a dental prevention program. In general, teeth should be brushed three times a day, after each meal. However, not only the quantity but also the quality of oral hygiene plays a decisive role in preventing gum pain.
Especially the interdental spaces are often neglected by most of the patients concerned. To achieve effective cleaning of these interdental spaces, interdental brushes (interdental space brushes) and/or dental floss should be used at least once a day. In addition, professional tooth cleaning should be performed at regular intervals.
