Gum disease is where the gums become red, swollen and sore, and can bleed. In the worst cases it can cause infection of the tissues supporting the teeth. Gum disease is very common and is likely to affect most adults at some point in their life. There are two main types of gum disease: ‘gingivitis’ and ‘periodontal disease’.
Gingivitis is the most common form of gum disease and leads to the superficial inflammation of the gums. It causes the gums around the teeth become very red and swollen. Often the gums bleed when you brush them.
If gingivitis is left untreated, it can turn into periodontal disease. This affects the underlying bone which holds the teeth in place. If the periodontal disease is not managed, it can lead to tooth mobility, sensitivity, gum recession and eventual tooth loss. Severe gum disease affects approximately 10% of the population and is a major cause of tooth loss in adults.
The first sign may be blood on your toothbrush when you clean your teeth. Your gums may also bleed when you are eating, leaving a bad taste in your mouth and your breath may become unpleasant. If you think you may have gum disease, the most important thing to do is visit your dentist for a full examination. The dentist will use a special probe to measure any space present between your tooth and gum, known as a pocket. This will also identify any sites which are bleeding. The increased pocket depths indicate a higher risk of gum disease. The dentist may take some xrays of your teeth to see the amount of bone that has been lost. This assessment is very important, so the correct treatment can be prescribed for you.
Unfortunately, gum disease usually develops painlessly so you do not notice the damage it is doing. However, the bacteria are sometimes more active, and this is what makes your gums sore. This can lead to gum abscesses, and pus may ooze from around the teeth. Over a few years, the bone supporting the teeth can be lost, which can lead to teeth moving and gaps appearing between the teeth. If the disease is left untreated for a long time, treatment to save the teeth may not be possible.
Your dentist or hygienist will usually clean your teeth thoroughly to remove the scale. You’ll also be shown how to remove plaque successfully yourself, cleaning all the surfaces of your teeth thoroughly and effectively. This may take several sessions with the dentist or hygienist. A good oral-care routine at home, with brushing and interdental cleaning, is the most important thing you can do to help prevent gum disease getting worse.
Once your teeth are clean, your dentist may decide to carry out further cleaning of the roots of the teeth, to make sure that the last pockets of bacteria are removed. This is known as root surface debridement. You may need the treatment area to be numbed before anything is done. Afterwards, you may feel some discomfort for up to 48 hours. Multiple sessions of this treatment may be required to gain stability.
If your gum disease treatment is not successful, we may recommend you attend to see a specialist in periodontal disease. Here at Church View Dental Care, we have a periodontal specialist called Dr James Chesterman. If you feel you would benefit from seeing Dr Chesterman, please speak to your dentist.
Periodontal disease is never cured, but it can be controlled as long as you keep up the home care you have been taught. Any further loss of bone will be very slow and it may stop altogether. However, you must make sure you remove plaque every day, and go for regular check-ups by the dentist and hygienist.
In recent years gum disease has been linked with general health conditions such as diabetes, strokes, cardiovascular (heart) disease, poor pregnancy outcomes and even dementia. While we need more research to understand how these links work, there is more and more evidence that having a healthy mouth and gums can help improve general health and reduce the costs of medical treatment.