Letting gum disease develop and damage your teeth can have long term effects and create large dentist bills
Gum disease affects everyone at some time during their life. It can cause long lasting damage and yet most people don’t even realise they are affected by it. Like many conditions, early intervention to treat gum disease can ensure the longevity of your teeth. If you have swollen or bleeding gums or your teeth feel loose, it may be too late for an easy fix.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease commonly comes in 2 forms – gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease. It occurs when dental plaque builds up on teeth, particularly where the gum joins the teeth. The tell-tale signs of gingivitis are bleeding when brushing your teeth, redness and sensitivity of the gums, and swelling of the gum. It is possible to reverse gingivitis before permanent damage is done.
Periodontitis is an advanced gum disease that will occur if gingivitis is not treated. After gingivitis weakens the gums, spaces called periodontal pockets will form. Bacteria can become trapped in these pockets causing further inflammation. At this stage, the supporting bone and fibres that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged.
Soon this will advance into periodontitis. In this final stage of gum disease, the fibres and bones that support your teeth are largely destroyed. This will lead to your teeth loosening and shifting. This will negatively affect your jaw structure and your bite. Soon after shifting begins you may need to have teeth removed.
Periodontitis is the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the world. Fortunately, it can be avoided.
Symptoms of gum disease
Gum disease can occur at any age but is most common among adults. If detected in its early stages it can be improved. If you notice any of the following symptoms then you may be in the early stages of gum disease:
- Red, puffy, or tender gums
- Consistent bleeding when brushing your teeth
- Receding gums around the bottom of your teeth
- Bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
At Redlands Gentle Dental Care, if we notice any of these symptoms of gum disease we will prescribe a routine to help reverse gum disease before it gets worse. It can also help to re-think your diet and limit sugary drinks to meal times only.
Avoiding gum disease
Gum disease can ruin your smile and can very easily have long-term effects on your mouth and jaw structure. Proper preventive measures will stop gum disease from forming and will save you money for treatments and dental implants.
At Redlands gentle dental care, we suggest quarterly appointments with your dentist in order to check on your oral hygiene and make sure there are no suspect spots for gingivitis or periodontitis to form.
This involves measuring the gaps between the gum and the teeth to see if there are any pockets for bacteria to form. As well as a proper examination of your oral hygiene habits. It is common for many people to brush their teeth twice a day but still develop gum disease as they do not brush their teeth correctly.
Your dentist will instruct you to brush and floss close to or on your gum so that any plaque or bacteria is cleaned away from the edge of your gums. Using mouthwash in conjunction with this can help flush out any spots you have missed. It is common for you to sometimes bleed when doing this especially if you already show early signs of gum disease forming.
By scheduling regular check-ups, early-stage gum disease can be treated before it leads to a much more serious condition. If your condition is more advanced, treatment in the dental clinic will be required.
Why gum disease is worth investing your time
With the amount of potential damage that can be caused by gum disease, it is worth staying on top of your oral health condition and making sure that you have regular appointments booked with your dentist.
If you are to lose a tooth to gum disease, the treatments to repair the bone structure of your jaw as well as remove all symptoms of gum disease can be costly.
At Redlands gentle dental care, we will clean and inspect your teeth for early signs of gum disease with each check-up. Staying vigilant of gum disease is the only way to avoid it completely.
If you show symptoms of gum disease, then we suggest you either call or book an appointment at Redlands gentle dental care so that we can help you treat it before it does irreversible damage.
