(Corrie Pelc/ Medical News Today) — Gum disease — clinically known as periodontal disease or periodontitis — affects almost half of all adults ages 30 years or older.
Common treatments for periodontal disease include scaling, where a dentist cleans teeth below the gum surface, antibiotic medications, and surgical options.
Now, researchers from the NYU College of Dentistry have devised a less invasive treatment option for gum disease in a topical gel.
This study was recently published in the journal Cell Reports.
Build up of plaque and tartar on your teeth can irritate your gums, causing infection.
Some people are genetically at a higher risk for developing gum disease. And some medications, such as steroids and oral contraceptives, are risk factors for periodontal disease. (…)