Can periodontitis lead to tooth decay and a sore?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have a tooth in the right top of my mouth at the very back that has been falling apart and is now more than half gone. On the left side in the same area, the same is happening. There is a small sore directly behind the most decayed tooth, which seems to be where most of the pain radiates from. I am currently on Clindamycin to get rid of periodontitis so that I can see a dentist and have the tooth or teeth dealt with.

I believe that my tooth loss is partially due to a stomach ailment that has not been definitively diagnosed since the tooth decay started occurring shortly after the stomach issue began, going on a year and a half ago now. Anyway, my question is could periodontitis be the cause of my tooth decay with no other symptoms but small blistery bumps and inflamed gums? And if so, could a possible immunodeficiency caused by my stomach ailment limit my ability to fight the gum infection, as the first prescription of Penicillin did not work? Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your query and concern.

Well, your tooth decay can be due to poor oral hygiene, and in case, if it is due to a stomach ailment, then it can probably be due to an acid reflux problem that can cause erosion of teeth. The periodontal problem can cause gum recession and more probability of tooth decay at the root surface. A bump on the gum can be due to gum abscess formation. For this, you need to get an X-ray done to confirm the diagnosis. For decayed teeth, get the appropriate treatment done, like root canal treatment, so that they can be prevented from further decay. Teeth that are grossly decayed need extraction. In case you have generalized periodontitis, then deep scaling and curettage can be done, followed by flap surgery if needed. So I suggest you should consult your dentist and start treatment, as antibiotics are not sufficient.

I hope this helps.

Regards.