| What we do – Dental
Problems |
| Gum Disease |
<< back |
 Gum
disease or periodontal disease, as dentists call it, is
caused by plaque – which is the name given to the
film of bacteria that collects on teeth. Gum disease
involves the inflammation of the gums and then infection.
Periodontal disease is usually painless which can make
it harder to detect. |
| The early stages |
| In its early stages just the gum is affected, with the gums become inflamed and appearing red and swollen. The gums will bleed easily and the bleeding can often be noticed
on brushing. You may notice bad breath. At this stage
if you get rid of all the plaque and keep it away, by
careful brushing, flossing and perhaps the use of mouthwashes
as well, your gums should return to normal. |
| The later stages – bone loss |
 If the disease is not stopped it continues
to spread down beneath the gum, at which point the gums may become
more swollen and bleed more often. The plaque may harden
to form 'tartar' or calculus around the teeth. The infection spreads into
the bone that holds the teeth in place and, in simple
terms, starts to dissolve the bone away. Once the bone
goes it cannot be naturally replaced. |
| How the teeth are affected |
| The effect of losing bone is that the
tooth may become gradually loose and eventually, if the
disease process is not stopped, then the affected tooth
or teeth will fall out. In these later stages you will
need the help of a dentist or dental hygienist to carry
out cleaning under the gums to clean out the affected
areas. If the disease is severe then you may need to
see a gum specialist or periodontist for treatment and sometimes gum surgery
is required. |
| Prevention of gum disease |
| Gum disease can usually be prevented
by good and careful teeth cleaning, and regular cleanings
or scale and polishes with your dentist or hygienist. |
| Studies have also shown that smoking
is a risk factor for gum disease and every effort should
be stop smoking as part of treatment for the condition. |
| Your dentist should assess your gums at
every check-up by gently probing round your teeth to
check for areas of bleeding or to look for areas where
bone may be being lost. Additionally routine x-rays will
show the bone levels around your mouth. Your dentist
should be keeping a record of the condition of your gums
as they are as important as your teeth. |
| If you go to the dentist regularly and
keep your teeth and gums clean there is usually no reason
why you should suffer from gum disease. |
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