What is gum disease ?
Gum disease is another,and possibly more popular, name of periodontal disease. The latter is the professional term and refers to the area surrounding the teeth.This includes gums,bone,root cement and small fibers connecting teeth to the bone.
It is a very common condition that affects about half of the world population .It often remains unnoticed because of the lack of obvious symptoms such as pain.
How does it occur ?
In most of the cases it happens because of inadequate oral hygiene. When we don’t clean our teeth well,including the spaces between them,plaque forms. This is a thin coat containing small food debris,bacteria and saliva.In the early days we can remove the plaque by brushing and cleaning between teeth twice a day.
If we don’t maintain good hygiene and leave plaque behind, this hardens and turns into hard mass which we call tartar(or calculus). Tartar can accumulate above or below the gum line and ,unlike the plaque, is not something that we can get rid of however hard we brush.
What are the symptoms of gum disease?
There are basically two stages of gum disease.
Firstly we can notice bleeding when brushing or eating. The gums could be sore and appear red and swollen. They move away from the teeth and bad breath may become noticeable. This is the initial phase of the problem called gingivitis. The good news here is that this condition is reversible.This is achievable through oral hygiene improvement and regular visits to the dental office where the dental professionals carry out scale and polish.
If we don’t notice the gingivitis on time or deal with it effectively then periodontitis develops. This is the second stage of the gum disease. At this point spaces between teeth may become obvious.As the problem progresses deep pockets form and the supporting bone starts to break down because of the activity of bacteria that the calculus contains. With inadequate management the teeth lose stability over time and can even fall out.
Can everyone have gum disease?
Yes,indeed. Everyone is at risk to getting gum disease but some people are more susceptible to develop it,especially their aggressive forms.These are patients who suffer with poorly controlled diabetes,obesity or are on a poor diet. Smoking, poor oral hygiene, and stress can also increase the risk.
Is there treatment for gum disease?
The answer is yes and the gum disease is more easily manageable in its early stages.
The aim of this treatment is to reduce the bacterial load around the teeth. This we attain by maintaining excellent oral hygiene. We have to clean our teeth twice a day by using good quality brush. It is very important to remove plaque between teeth by using floss and interdental brushes. About 30% of plaque remains between teeth regardless of how often or how hard we brush.
As we mentioned before once the plaque has hardened and become tartar,only a dentist,or a dental hygienist can remove it . Thisthey do by using both machine and hand instruments. It is sometimes necessary to perform deep debridement (root planing) if there are advanced pockets. Taking this step could stop further bone loss and improve the prognosis for the affected teeth.
It is possible that the dentist will recommend an antibiotic course if the mechanical clean does not resolve the problem.
If you think you might have issues with gum disease get in touch with Irby Dental Practice.
With our expertise, we will provide you with the best possible treatment and advice.