What is Gum Disease?

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Gum disease (or periodontal disease as dentists call it) is a condition which causes you to lose bony support to your teeth. Over time, this  destruction of bone can make you teeth feel loose which, unfortunately for some people may be the first sign of gum disease. Gum Disease is completely preventable but cannot be cured.

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What causes it?

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Everyone has bacteria in their mouth and in some people the particular type of bacteria they have can be more damaging. Gum disease is essentially caused by bacteria causing infection and inflammation of the gums and/or the bone that sits around you teeth.

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How do I know if I have gum disease?

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The early signs of gum disease are easy to spot. They are:

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• Bleeding when you clean your teeth

• Teeth which have become wobbly over time

• Pain when you brush your teeth

• A bad smell from your gums

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When you see your dentist for a check-up, part of what they do is feel around your gums to check for areas which are bleeding and where you might have already had some damage. Regular check-ups with your dentist will help ensure any gum disease is picked up early and treated.

For some good brushing and cleaning advice, click here

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How do I prevent myself from getting gum disease?

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Looking after your mouth well is the mainstay in preventing gum disease. This includes:

 

       1. brushing your teeth twice a day

       2. using something to clean in between you teeth like TePe brushes or floss

       3. If you smoke, reducing the amount of cigarettes you smoke a day or cutting them out completely will improve your oral health massively

                  and also reduce your risk of gum disease.

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What if I already have gum disease?

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If you already have gum disease, keep following the advice above. You may need to do some extra things to make sure you're cleaning all of your mouth but your dentist and hygienist will show you how to do this.

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