Almost every adult in the UK has had, or currently suffers from, gum disease. It’s one of the most common dental diseases in the country. However, there are still a lot of misconceptions about gum disease, how it forms and how to get rid of it, as well as what happens if it gets out of control.
We’ve put together some information about this potentially damaging disease below, so you have all the information you need to tackle gum disease.
Most people will have some form of gum disease in their lifetime. It’s extremely common as a disease and usually gets resolved after maintaining better dental hygiene. However, if the disease is allowed to progress, it can lead to significant problems with your teeth, dental health, tooth loss and there is evidence that gum disease can cause strokes, heart disease and even diabetes
With gum disease, the most important thing is to treat it before it becomes worse. The best way to do this is to visit a dental hygienist to get your teeth and gums deep cleaned, and by following good dental hygiene practice (brushing, flossing and mouthwash twice a day).
Gingivitis is the starting point of gum disease. Many people at this stage may not realise they have a problem, but if you bleed from your gums after flossing or brushing, or if your gums are sore and inflamed, it’s likely you have the first stage of gum disease.
Thankfully, no long-term damage will have been done at this stage and the problem can be reversed, provided you follow good dental hygiene. You can also use certain mouthwash products to help the gums recover
Periodontitis is the next stage of gum disease. At this point, there will be some kind of irreversible damage done. Both the gums, the tooth and potentially the bone underneath the gum can start to become infected and damaged. This leads to a much weaker grip on the teeth, making them prone to wobbling and potentially falling out. The gum line itself tends to recede quite far at this stage, also making the teeth lose. At this stage, dental work needs to be carried out urgently.
If left further, the gum disease then starts to cause significant damage to the bone holding the teeth and cannot be easily reversed without seeing a specialist. Teeth may also need to be replaced as they may be damaged at the root and the gums and underlying bone can be extremely sore. At this stage, your dentist will need to put together a plan of treatment to remove the disease and to prevent it from coming back again.
Gum disease is easily noticeable due to the symptoms that come with it. If you have problems with any of the following, it’s worth booking a visit to our dental clinic for us to check:
Depending on the stage of the disease, the gum disease can often be stopped and reversed by going through a better dental hygiene routine. Brushing and flossing twice a day while using anti-gingivitis mouthwash is a good way to stop the disease in its tracks at the early stages, but in later stages, you may need to visit a dentist to go for a tooth scale and clean.
A tooth scale and clean uses a specialised tool to remove plaque and bacteria build up on and around the tooth, as well as under the gum line. Your dentist will recommend a dental hygiene routine to follow and that should prevent things from getting worse.
If the jaw bone has been infected and damaged, more specialised dental surgery may have to be undertaken, which our dentists will explain to you in more detail.
As with all dental treatment, the best type of cure is prevention. Cleaning your teeth thoroughly twice a day will prevent gum disease from occurring in the first place.
Gum disease is quite common in people who struggle with diabetes. Due to increased levels of glucose in the bloodstream and saliva, the bacteria that cause periodontitis thrive and multiply quicker, making the disease progress much faster than in people without.
As a result, people suffering from diabetes need to take extra care over their dental hygiene to keep this under control. If you’re not sure how to contact our dentists and we’ll give you tips on keeping your teeth and gums at their best.
Like with diabetes, gum disease can be common in women who are pregnant. This is due to hormonal changes affecting the body’s resistance to the bacteria that cause periodontitis. While a good dental hygiene routine will keep it under control, regular check-ups with our dentists will ensure it doesn’t progress out of control.
Want to know more about dental treatments when you’re pregnant? Find out here
Struggling with gum disease? Seeing bleeding gums after each brush? Get in touch with us for a free consultation and we’ll put together a treatment plan for you. Call 01 454 2022
