What is meant by gum disease?
This is the general term describing inflammation of the supporting tissues of the teeth. Other terms for gum disease are 'gingivitis', 'pyorrhoea' or 'periodontal disease'
What is gingivitis?
This is an early stage of gum disease and it can be recognised when the gum becomes red and inflamed and bleeds when you brush your teeth or when you eat.
What is periodontal disease?
This is one of the later stages of gum disease when the bone supporting the teeth is also affected.
How likely am I to suffer from gum disease?
Much of the population suffer from gum disease in one form or another. It remains the main cause of tooth loss in adults, but it does progress very slowly in most people.
What is the cause?
All gum diseases are caused by plaque. This is a sticky film of bacteria which naturally forms on the teeth of everybody every day. These bacteria infect the area where the gum and teeth meet (the margin) causing the gum to become red and swollen. In the later stages, a space is formed between the tooth and the gum, called a pocket. This creates areas that are more difficult to clean with a toothbrush and these therefore fill up with plaque. As the disease progresses further, the fibres which hold the teeth to the bone itself, are broken down making the pocket deeper.
What can be the result of gum disease?
In the long term you could lose your teeth through gum disease. Some people may experience bursts of activity in which the gums become swollen and bleed. Abscesses can occur and in the worst cases, pus may ooze from the pockets resulting in an unpleasant taste and bad breath. Following one of these bursts the condition may temporarily settle but, if untreated, bone could be lost and the teeth loosen. Periodontal diseases are slow in progressing and it can take a number of years for enough bone loss to occur for the teeth to become loose. Treatment of the disease becomes more difficult as it progresses. Gum disease has been implicated in both heart disease and premature birth. It is thought that a continued seepage of bacteria into the bloodstream from the infected gums is the cause.
Do I have gum disease?
You probably have some gum disease unless you have been carrying out perfect cleaning and have been found to be free from disease by your dentist.
So what do I do about it?
Firstly, you need to be seen regularly by the dentist or hygienist who will monitor the health of your gums. The treatment of gum disease in most cases is simple. The initial treatment is often thorough professional cleaning by a dentist or hygienist. From then on, the day to day health of your gums is up to you and your home care. Therefore part of your treatment will include being shown the most efficient daily routine to keep your teeth and gums healthy. This may include how to clean areas of your mouth that the larger toothbrush may be unable to reach.
Does anything make gum disease worse?
Yes. Poor fitting dentures with incorrect biting forces on teeth can make gum disease progress faster. You can also become more prone to gum disease during pregnancy and with other diseases such as diabetes, or in smokers. However, if you can keep plaque to a low level, there should be no greater risk in these cases.
Is gum disease painful?
Gum disease is not necessarily painful and it can progress for many years without pain. Pain is most likely to occur when you have an acute burst of gingivitis with the formation of ulcers on the gum, or abscesses.
My gums bleed - what does this mean?
When your gums bleed it means that you have got some gum disease. It is not normal for gums to bleed on eating or brushing, so this may be the first sign that you are aware that you have a problem.
What must I do?
If your gums bleed or appear red and inflamed, then you should visit us and ask for us to examine your gums. From the age of 35 onwards more teeth are lost through gum disease than for any other reason. The good news is that gum disease is preventable and, in the early stages, can be completely cured. If you follow the advice of your dentist or hygienist and keep your mouth clean, you can minimise the possibility of losing teeth due to gum disease.
What is treatment likely to involve?
The dentist or hygienist has to remove all the bacteria, tartar and infected tissue from below the gums. This will typically be done over several visits, under local anaesthesia. For resistant or refractory gum disease, locally applied antibiotics or minor gum surgery may be necessary. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to discuss these with either your hygienist or dentist.
Will it hurt?
No. At Gentle Dental, we take pride in ensuring that we carry out pain free dentistry, however, you would expect discomfort, immediately after treatment and perhaps some sensitivity for a few weeks afterwards as the gums heal. Some patients will use over the counter analgesics on the day of treatment and a specialist toothpaste for sensitive teeth for the following few weeks.
How long will it take?
This very much depends on the extent of the gum disease, but we would usually allow 30-40 minutes for between four and eight teeth to be treated.
Are there any after effects?
The bleeding is caused by inflammation. As the inflammation subsides, it is normal to expect that there will be some gum recession. Often patients will require increased monitoring of their gum condition, perhaps with more regular scaling and polishing to maintain the gums in good condition.
