Gum Disease

At Your Dental Care we make full use of a reputable treatment to detect and take care of gum disease.

Gum disease screening is a fundamental element of the oral check-up procedure. Inflammation, pain and/or infection of the gum area are symptoms which may indicate the presence of gum disease. The two most common types of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontal disease.

What is gingivitis?

This is when there is swelling of the gum tissue and the gums look extremely red and inflamed. When brushing teeth the gums will start to bleed during the cleaning process.

What is periodontal disease?

If left untreated gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease, which is a more advanced and serious form of gum disease. There are a number of different forms of periodontal disease which impinge on the gums. As the disease worsens it can lead to bone loss around the root of the teeth and jaw. This can then make teeth wobbly and may even result in tooth loss.

Causes of gum disease

Plaque is the reason that gum disease occurs. It is small layer of bacteria which coats the teeth and the gum area frequently. A lot of the bacteria within plaque are not dangerous, whilst some are proven to be the reason for gum disease. The only way to counteract this is by having an effective oral hygiene technique, which should include brushing and flossing to remove bits of plaque from the mouth.

If gum disease is not treated

Gum disease can continue to progress until it is too late. This is because it can strengthen and grow worse without much pain. However, many cases of gum disease do involve noticeable signs of pain and tenderness. There may also be abscesses on the gums and the pus from them may become visible if they leak. Over the course of time the jawbone around the infected gum and teeth can disintegrate. If the gum disease is not treated then it can become much more difficult to treat.

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

An initial warning is signs of blood on the toothbrush or when you rinse out the mouth after brushing. There may also be bleeding when you eat certain foods and or if you taste blood in your mouth. This can also affect the breath and make it smell bad.