Gum disease
What is gum disease?
Gum disease is inflammation of the tissues that support teeth and attach them to the jaw. In its early stages the disease only involves soft gum tissue and is called gingivitis. Later, disease may spread to the bone and is called periodontitis.
How do I know if I have gum disease?
In gingivitis, the gums are usually red and swollen and often bleed during tooth brushing. As the disease progresses, gums shrink and teeth may loosen as bone underneath is destroyed and eventually some teeth may fall out.
Gum disease is often associated with bad breath or an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
What causes gum disease?
The disease is caused by a thin layer of bacteria called plaque which builds up on teeth. In time the bacteria start to produce poisons (“toxins”) which attach the gum. These toxins cause inflammation, swelling and bleeding gums. The plaque which causes periodontitis is different — it builds up in the pockets that form between gums and teeth as the disease gets worse.
If the dental plaque is left on the teeth, in time it starts to harden or “calcify” and is called tartar (“calculus”). The calculus provides a greater area for more dental plaque to build up and can accelerate the problem.
How can gum disease be treated?
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Gum disease is inflammation of the tissues that support teeth and attach them to the jaw. In its early stages the disease only involves soft gum tissue and is called gingivitis. Later, disease may spread to the bone and is called periodontitis.
How do I know if I have gum disease?
In gingivitis, the gums are usually red and swollen and often bleed during tooth brushing. As the disease progresses, gums shrink and teeth may loosen as bone underneath is destroyed and eventually some teeth may fall out.
Gum disease is often associated with bad breath or an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
What causes gum disease?
The disease is caused by a thin layer of bacteria called plaque which builds up on teeth. In time the bacteria start to produce poisons (“toxins”) which attach the gum. These toxins cause inflammation, swelling and bleeding gums. The plaque which causes periodontitis is different — it builds up in the pockets that form between gums and teeth as the disease gets worse.
If the dental plaque is left on the teeth, in time it starts to harden or “calcify” and is called tartar (“calculus”). The calculus provides a greater area for more dental plaque to build up and can accelerate the problem.
How can gum disease be treated?
- Careful brushing and flossing reduces the build up of plaque at gum margins and between teeth.
- Regular dental visits will enable your dentist and/or hygienist to remove any build up of calculus and monitor any problem areas.
- Existing gum disease can be treated. Where pockets have formed, the roots of teeth can be cleaned and smoothed to allow the gum to re-attach. This is called scaling and root planing. In deeper pockets, it may be necessary to reduce the bacteria using antibiotics. In a few cases surgery may be used to make access easier, especially for back teeth.
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